François Bayrou's government has singled out the enemy: public debt. It is expected to represent 116,2% of France's GDP in 2025. Far too much, so it has presented a plan intended to " restore budgetary room for maneuver to finance what really matters to the French "The objective: to reduce the public deficit to 4,6% by 2026. Everyone will have to tighten their belts, and sport is no exception. One year after the Paris 2024 Games, efforts will still have to be made. This is causing some gnashing of teeth and concern.
A 17% drop in credits
The 2026 finance bill provides for the allocation of funds for sport, youth and community life to increase from 1,7 billion euros to 1,4 billion in 2026. Among the 31 missions listed, only five will have to make a more substantial effort: the economy (-0,4 billion), public development aid (-0,7 billion), territorial cohesion (-0,9), work, employment and administration of social ministries (-1,3), and finally solidarity, integration and equal opportunities (-1,7). The French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) and the French Paralympic and Sports Committee (CPSF) are seeing red, of course. The proposed budget ceiling within the scope of state spending provides for a further drastic 17,6% reduction in funding allocated to sport, youth, and community life. This is an incomprehensible, unfair, and dangerous decision. Sport is a vital public policy. ", they denounce in a joint press release.
« Since the beginning of the year, almost 300 million euros have already been returned by the sector, the equivalent of almost half of its budgetary appropriations. ", underlines the committees. Amélie Oudéa-Castéra and Marie-Amélie Le Fur have already protested against the reduction in the budget for Pass'Sport, a scheme that provides financial assistance to young people from modest backgrounds to join a club or sports association. This new injustice goes against the French people's desire for sport, the observed dynamics of license acquisitions following the Games and the enthusiasm generated by the prospect of France hosting the 2030 Alps Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. ", the statement continues, regretting that sport is treated with contempt" while it represents only 0,10% of the State budget, a very minimal amount in the government's budgetary equation ».
"It's an entire generation, an entire heritage that we're trampling on."
French sport is preparing to celebrate the first anniversary of the Games on Saturday, July 26, in a strange context, with much uncertainty about its future. This new budget cut marks a real abandonment, contrary to the legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the ambitions for youth, public health, inclusion and national cohesion. ", deplore the CNOSF and the CPSF. " Every euro invested in sport generates 13 euros in savings for the community. The usefulness of this investment is proven, its effectiveness measured. This must be important to a government team that claims to be committed to the efficiency of public spending. Through this finance bill, an entire generation, an entire model, an entire legacy is being trampled. » Amélie Oudéa-Castéra called for general mobilization on LinkedIn, " now and even more massively at the start of the school year ", to weigh in on this issue. When we see that François Bayrou is ready to do away with public holidays like May 8, which celebrates the victory over Nazi Germany, the chances of being heard unfortunately seem very slim.
