“I do to my body what we do to our planet,” says the 30-year-old. “This is my message.”
On September 3, Vandenelsken began its fierce tour of France in the Montargis regions of central France and will conclude on December 10 in Valenciennes in northern France. Then its route will form a heart on the map. On the way, the young man talks to clubs, farmers, children – he says he has met almost 2,000 boys and girls so far.
Rethinking climate change
As a member of the Sport Planète collective, Vandenelsken is one of those “eco-adventurers” who seek to raise awareness of climate change issues with the help of, and particularly through, sport. In Paris, the 84th stage on Friday, he briefly met with Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, the French Minister of Sports, who is also in charge of the 2024 Olympic Games in the capital.
In a letter to sporting events organizers and all responsible ministries, he and his fellow campaigners call for a rethinking of climate change: they think sporting events should respect the integrity of nature. This includes, for example, limiting the number of vehicles used to reach major events such as the Tour de France, or renovating sports facilities rather than building new facilities.
a risky move
Vandenelsken consulted doctors before embarking on an endurance run of 4,200 kilometers. He says he is well-educated and has the necessary mental stamina. “But I don’t advise anyone to run 100 marathons in 100 days – because maybe in five or ten years I’ll feel it in my joints.”
In the words of Didier Lehénaff, initiator of the Sport Planète movement and former President of the International Triathlon Federation, sport is “historically behind” on climate change issues. But he can catch up quickly, Lehénaff is convinced: “Normal people don’t accept things anymore,” he tells AFP news agency. “The sports media understood what was at stake and is in the process of moving to the green side of power.”
(AFP)