The Street Fit Exchange: Street Workout as a bridge between Réunion and Europe
From 2 to 11 June 2024, Réunion Island was alive with the rhythms of the "Street Fit Exchange", an ambitious project orchestrated by the Bek la barre association, in collaboration with local and European partners. Supported by the Erasmus + programme and taking place during Réunion's Olympic and Paralympic Week (SROP), this youth exchange enabled 32 participants from Latvia, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Spain and Réunion to meet, exchange ideas and work together, transforming the initiative into a sporting celebration that transcended mere physical challenges to forge deep-rooted cultural links and friendships.
STREETFIT EXCHANGE: Empowering youth through street workout and inclusivity
An event rooted in interculturality and sport
The "Street Fit Exchange" has established itself as a crossroads of dynamism and diversity. More than just a physical activity, street workout served as a powerful vehicle for intercultural dialogue. With participants from all 4 corners of Europe coming to Réunion under the European banner, each workshop, whether sporting, cultural, educational or creative, transformed differences into opportunities for discovery, learning and sharing.
Each morning, participants gathered in the different parks to practice or do street workout activities, offering the local and international public initiations and demonstrations of strength and agility. Workshops were held on Tuesday 4 June at Etang-Salé and 5 June at Le Port, with Bulgarian Stefan EROTEEV and Cristian TIROTTA, respectively world champion and 2023 vice-world champion in freestyle, and Latvian Vadim BARISHOKS (vice-world champion in Set & Reps). The highlight of the event was on 8 June, when the brand new Casabona park in Saint-Pierre (work was completed the day before) was transformed into a vibrant international arena of skill and competition. One of the stated aims was to give local athletes and the general public the chance to meet, exchange ideas and, for some of them, compete against international athletes.
Each evening, the intercultural evenings offered participants the opportunity to exchange their local cultures and share a part of their identity with other European citizens, transforming each encounter into a bridge between worlds.
The Street Fit Exchange workshops merged formal and non-formal education, enriching the experience between participants and organisations. These sessions not only improved physical skills but also fostered a deep cultural understanding.
A true symbol of the street workout craze
The presence of Rolands KIKORS, President of the World Street Workout & Calisthenics Federation (WSWCF), the sport's largest federation, and Paco PODUNAJEC, President of the International Street Lifting Federation (ISF), reinforced the event's importance on the international stage. Their participation was a strong signal to street workout enthusiasts, symbolising the rise of the sport on the island and the first collaboration between the two federations. The two presidents stressed the importance of creating synergy between the various street workout organisations in order to give global recognition to the discipline.
Jean-Pierre GRAZIANI, founder of Bek la barre, sums up the impact of the event: "We have shown that street workout is a vehicle for social cohesion, promoting positive values and inclusion. It's an accessible sport that allows you to gain confidence and develop both physically and mentally. We now need to ensure that street workout becomes a mainstream sport not only in the countries of the European Union, but throughout the world".
The Street Fit Exchange demonstrates how sport can act as a bridge between different cultures. The stories told by participants, including Ethan Cains (Holland), underlined the profound and transformative impact of the event: "Taking part in this exchange was a revelation for me. I met some extraordinary people and deepened my understanding of different cultures in a very personal way. It has greatly strengthened my sense of belonging to Europe".
This successful project inspires and paves the way for similar initiatives in the future, reinforcing the idea that sport is a perfect vehicle for creating a more inclusive and interconnected world.
