Interview

Côte d'Ivoire: a game-changing assist

Sports and resocialisation in prison

Sports activities do not stop at prison walls. Penitentiary authorities are required to offer all prisoners the chance to take part in physical activities and sports. Does sport improve living conditions in prison and help incarcerated individuals reintegrate into society? That is the hope of La Balle aux Prisonniers (LaBAP). The organisation was founded in 2016 by Nicolas Huet and Lionel Grassy, two avid football amateurs. They are both convinced that sport can be used to promote social inclusion, integration and equal opportunity. LaBAP now operates in Côte d’Ivoire, France, Belgium, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Niger.

Olympe Konan de Simon is the national coordinator for LaBAP in Côte d’Ivoire. Prison Insider asked him three questions.

We do more than just sport, that is merely a pretext. Our ultimate goal is to help prisoners reintegrate into society.