“Giving their smile back”: for these 5,000 children, their day at the Stade de France will remain unforgettable

“If he signs the jersey for me, then it’s dead, I’m not washing it! » Tom refers to the former French XV rugby player, Maxime Médard, and triggers laughter from the educators who accompany him from the Bel Air Medical-Educational Institute, in Perreux-sur-Marne. At his side, Tiphaine, educator, savors the moment: “It’s important to us to get them out of their daily lives. At IME, we lack resources, time, space… and above all opportunities to play sports. This kind of day is unique for them. »

These shining eyes are made possible by the Premiers de Cordée association. Since 1999, she has worked to allow sick or disabled children to have access to sports. First at the hospital, then through Escape Day, launched twelve years ago.

This Wednesday, April 15, nearly 5,000 children will take over the surroundings of the Stade de France. The square is transformed into an immense multi-sport field: thirty-eight disciplines to discover, from football to tennis, but also more unexpected activities, such as surfing or sailing. Everyone ends up there. “I went cycling, it was great,” relishes Youness. “I discovered tennis,” says Sacha.

“They are going through difficult times, I feel really lucky”

Supported in particular by the sponsorship of Kylian Mbappé since 2017, the association now organizes five Escape Days each year across France (Rouen, Le Mans, Bordeaux, Nice) and continues to grow. “We started with 500 children and 15 sports. Today, we have changed scale,” indicates Sébastien Ruffin, general director of the association since 2011.

In the workshops, the children meet stars. “Ethan!” Ethan! Look at me! », they shout as Ethan Mbappé approaches. The professional footballer from Lille, little brother of the Real Madrid star, stops, talks, takes the time to play with them: “It’s important to make the children smile. If they have it, so do I. They are going through difficult times, I feel really lucky. That’s why I’m here. »

Paralympic athletes are also fully involved. Like table tennis player Esteban Herrault, bronze medalist at the Paris 2024 Games, who discovered Premiers de Cordée a year ago and has since participated in several events, such as an Escape Day at Le Mans, in his hometown. “I immediately connected with the energy of the volunteers. Everything is done to bring smiles back to the children,” he whispers after a committed “turning point”.

The commitment is concrete: a few tennis matches, an introduction to pararugby, boxing sparring with Bakary Samaké. Even the Minister of Sports, Marina Ferrari, got in on the action, participating in a wild game of volleyball: “It is extremely important to be here to support this action and remind people that sport must be accessible to everyone, everywhere, and whatever their physical condition or state of health. »

Sébastien Ruffin summarizes: “Institutional recognition is always a good thing, but above all we are fulfilling a mission that few players carry out at this level. » Every year, nearly 15,000 children benefit from the association’s actions, assistance without equivalent in France. A development still constrained by means. “We would like to intervene in more hospitals. But our model is 80% based on private financing. »

“When we see the children who don’t want to leave at the end of the day…”

The day also continues inside the stadium. A visit is notably led by Maxime Médard: the children discover behind the scenes. In the tunnel, they warm up like professionals. “Go Blues, go Blues!” », Says the rugby player, immediately taken up in chorus. In the locker room, a message from Kylian Mbappé is broadcast. The children, fascinated, respond spontaneously.

“When we see the children who don’t want to leave at the end of the day, we know that we have succeeded in our mission,” summarizes Christian Jeanpierre, honorary president of the association.

As the hours pass, the obvious becomes clear: here, the differences fade away. Pathologies intersect and mix. “We also came to make them aware of other disabilities, and to show that some are more visible than others, but that everyone remains equal,” says Mohamed, an educator in Oise. After a day like this, the young people leave with stars in their eyes. For the greatest happiness of all.