“For a fit France”, a group of experts from the world of sport and health, is joining up with Paris 2024 to make the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games a catalyst for progress in the field.

On Wednesday, Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024 and Marie Barsacq, Paris 2024 Director of Impact and Legacy, met with representatives of the “For a fit France” collective, whose work centres on improving health via physical activity.

This first meeting was primarily a chance to share an understanding of the issues related to the health impact of sedentary lifestyles. It also provided an opportunity to establish the groundwork for collaboration around the general theme of sport and health, which will continue for the next six years between the Paris 2024 Committee and ‘For a fit France’. Further working meetings are planned before the end of the year to identify the key themes that will sit at the heart of the Paris 2024 Committee’s sport and health strategy.

Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024 said: “With the Paris 2024 Games, we want to act as a catalyst on key issues for our country over the next six years. Sport is a manufacturer of solutions, particularly when it comes to the fight against sedentary living and its effects such as obesity and poor cardiological health, especially among young people. Together with all our stakeholders and partners, we want to promote the benefits of regular sport and physical activity among all parts of society. The work starts now, which is why I am delighted to be able to count on the support and expertise of the “For a fit France” collective.”

Created in the summer of 2018, the “For a fit France” collective is made up of 16 independent experts from the world of sport, health and media (see list in appendix.) They include doctor Michel Cymes, who has already been working with Paris 2024 for more than two years as part of the Sport and Society Committee, and who said: “Doing 30 minutes of physical exercise each day adds two years to life expectancy. But sport and physical activity must also help improve quality of life across all social groups. Our work alongside Paris 2024 is aimed at getting this public health message out, and helping to bring positive changes to the way we all live.”

Valérie Fourneyron, former Minister of Sport, Youth, Education and civil society (2012-2014), who set in motion the French Paris 2024 bid in the context of the CFSI (Committee for French International Sport) is also an active member of the group. Currently President of the International Testing Agency and a sports doctor by training, Valérie Fourneyron commented on the reasons for her involvement with the collective, which is now linked with Paris 2024. She said: “Getting French people moving is a cause that affects everyone. Paris 2024 needs to be this light-switch that leads to a collective awakening in order to make it possible for individuals to commit. The six coming years must serve a purpose to mobilise all the key agencies concerned and contribute to improving health through the promotion of sport and physical activity in France.”

The Paris 2024 roadmap on “sport and health” issues will be defined at the start of 2019 in consultation with the public and sports movement agencies involved in the project.