The interest of the French for sport has widely developed over the last thirty years in France. More and more people are taking up some kind of physical exercise, motivated by a desire to socialize, keep fit or simply improve their personal sporting performance. Outdoor activities are increasingly popular, starting with hiking during the summer months, winter sports (December to April) in any of France's mountain ranges, and water sports (year-round) along the long and varied coastline. Dance, gymnastics, and disciplines borrowed from other cultures (African dance, yoga, "qi chong", etc.) are widely taught at centres throughout France. And the new action sports - mountain biking, surfing, paragliding, hang gliding, etc.- have more and more followers. In 2000, football and tennis were by far the most popular sports, followed by skiing, pétanque (the French form of bowls), judo, rugby and basketball. Some sports, like golf, riding and tennis, can be fairly expensive, but there are many sports associations offering affordable rates.All French towns have sports facilities including stadiums, gymnasiums, swimming pools and tennis courts. To find out all sport facilities, go to: http://www.res.jeunesse-sports.gouv.fr For a list of sports associations, enquire at your town hall (mairie) or your Youth Information Centre.
Every university will have sports facilities, managed by the Service Universitaires des Activités Physiques et Sportives, or SUAPS. Students will have the option of subscribing to the SUAPS when they enrol. Another way to practise sport at university is through the Fédération Française du Sport Universitaire (FFSU), which has a regional committee in each academic region (académie). For an annual subscription of EUR 12 to 23, depending on the académie, the student has a choice among fifty or so individual or collective sports.Students wishing to practise a sport at university will be asked to produce a recent medical certificate, which can be obtained free of charge from the university's preventive medicine centre (Centre de Médecine Préventive). Students are strongly recommended to take out insurance covering the risks entailed in practising sports. Suitable policies are available from the SUAPS or one of the students' mutual insurance companies.
The French are keen followers of all major sporting events, which receive wide radio and television coverage. Major events in France include:
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Les 24 heures du Mans motorcycle race (April)
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Roland Garros tennis tournament (late May, early June)
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Tour de France cycling race (in July)
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Paris Marathon race, and the less known Médoc marathon, through Bordeaux
Source: Egide ( www.egide.asso.fr )
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http://www.jeunesse-sports.gouv.fr |
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