For two days, the town of Saint-Éloy-les-Mines hosted an exceptional event dedicated to handifoot, sharing, and disability awareness. Young people, athletes, associations, volunteers, and the public gathered with a common goal: to introduce amputee football and promote the values of respect, solidarity, and inclusion through sport. The KS Academy was notably present, sharing its experience and practice.
The event began with outreach sessions in schools and the middle school, where members of the KS Academy, such as Laurence, Aurélien, Guy, and Brahim, discussed their journeys and sports practice with students. On Friday, handifoot players also participated in the training of the FCNC's U15 team. On Saturday morning, the club's youngest members discovered handifoot through direct contact with the athletes during a session with the Baby-foot and Football School.
The Rémy Durin stadium then hosted a training session and public demonstration by the KS Academy, allowing the audience to discover the technicality and intensity of this sport. This morning session was a highlight, fostering exchanges and a new perspective on disability through sports.
The afternoon continued with entertainment provided by the majorettes, the Dynamik club, and La Joliphée, accompanied by the Misses, in a festive atmosphere. A conference held in the gymnasium directly addressed issues related to disability and parasports, featuring testimonials from KS Academy members about their life paths, their amputee football practice, resilience, self-transcendence, and the role of sport in their daily lives.
The day culminated in a gala match at the Rémy Durin stadium. Following a pre-match ceremony, the kick-off was given by Philippe Comte, mayor of Saint-Éloy-les-Mines, alongside young Émil from the association Les Petits Cœurs Menatois. The KS Academy faced the Football Club Féminin des Combrailles, with the FCNC's U8-U9 players serving as ball boys. The evening concluded with a raffle draw and a dance party hosted by DJ Jean-Laurent.
This event was supported by numerous local stakeholders, including Mayor Philippe Comte, First Deputy Mayor Jonathan Auzel, Regional Councilor Sylvain Durin, and Departmental Councilor Jérôme Gaumet. The City of Saint-Éloy-les-Mines acknowledged the dedication of Nicolas and Séverine, as well as the strong involvement of the FCNC, the KS Academy, the Football Club Féminin des Combrailles, and the association Les Petits Cœurs Menatois. Volunteers, the majorettes, Dynamik, La Joliphée, the Misses, DJ Jean-Laurent, and the communes of Servant and Menat, along with local businesses like Le Bar-Tabac La Boule, O Mana, and Chez Mel, were also thanked for their contributions.
Beyond the sports performances and entertainment, this event primarily facilitated intergenerational encounters and raised public awareness about disability. The exchanges with children, athlete testimonials, and the match between the KS Academy and the Football Club Féminin des Combrailles players highlighted throughout the weekend the power of sport to unite people around common values, making this weekend a memorable occasion of sharing, solidarity, and inclusion in Saint-Éloy-les-Mines.
