The unique story of Siel Bleu

In contrast to the current trend in society which considers old-age sad and boring, Jean-Michel Ricard and Jean-Daniel Muller, two recent graduates from the University of Strasbourg’s Sport Sciences department, decided to create the Siel Bleu association in 1997 to help elderly people in their region to recover and to maintain their physical capabilities. Their association provides an innovative form of support based on health and adapted physical activity, and is based on a common good, non-profit model. The bonds of trust created with their beneficiaries have enabled the association to overcome a number of obstacles. Today Siel Bleu exists throughout France and has a very broad public foundation. The association has now become an associative group with various branches, employing four hundred and fifty people. Will Siel Bleu’s activities, whose therapeutic benefits are now the subject of research programmes, be reimbursed one day by the French social security system?