Marie Barsacq Launches Olympic and Paralympic Week in Nice Ahead of 2030 Games
The Minister of Sports emphasizes the importance of youth engagement in sports and the legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
On Monday, Marie Barsacq, the Minister of Sports, Youth, and Associative Life, officially launched the 2025 Olympic and Paralympic Week (SOP) in Nice, with a focus on preparing for the 2030 Winter Olympic Games in the French Alps.
This event took place at Lycée Masséna, where the Minister was welcomed alongside several prominent figures, including Renaud Muselier, President of the Sud Region, Anthony Borré, the Deputy Mayor of Nice, Marie-Amélie Le Fur, President of the French Paralympic and Sports Committee, and Edgar Grospiron, President of the Organizing Committee for the 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The SOP, initiated in 2017, marks its eighth edition this year.
Its primary objective is to encourage physical activity from an early age, targeting children from kindergarten through to university.
Participating schools organize workshops aimed at instilling the values of Olympism and Paralympism, while also raising awareness about disability issues.
This year, over 660,000 participants are expected to take part across more than 2,150 educational establishments throughout France.
At Lycée Masséna, nearly 700 students engaged in various activities highlighting the four key actions promoted during the 30 minutes of daily physical activity: jumping, throwing, running, and dancing.
Marie Barsacq noted the significance of this edition of the SOP as it follows the Paris 2024 Olympics, emphasizing the need to extend the legacy of these games and cultivate the Olympic spirit among youth.
She highlighted the importance of sports in fostering inclusion and educational values alongside family and school environments.
Edgar Grospiron underlined the vital role of sports in schools as a means to combat bullying.
He reflected on his own experiences, stating, 'When I was a kid at school, I might not have been bullied, but I was definitely bothered.
Once I started playing sports, the perception of me changed.
Sports is a powerful tool for personal development and self-confidence.'
In this context, Renaud Muselier reiterated the Sud Region’s commitment to youth and sports, announcing three significant investments: €50 million for the preservation and enhancement of Lycée Masséna, a historically classified monument, €40 million for modernizing high school sports facilities to promote student well-being and engagement in physical activities, and a secured sports budget for 2025 to support local clubs and develop infrastructure in anticipation of the 2030 Games.
The 2030 Winter Olympic Games were a central theme during this ministerial visit.
Marie Barsacq expressed her satisfaction in being in Nice as part of this initiative leading up to the Games, stating, 'This year, the SOP clearly aligns with the framework of the 2030 Winter Olympic Games, which will take place in the French Alps.' Following her visit to Lycée Masséna, Barsacq also toured the National Sports Museum and the Allianz Riviera Stadium for a working meeting regarding the Alps French 2030 project.
This event took place at Lycée Masséna, where the Minister was welcomed alongside several prominent figures, including Renaud Muselier, President of the Sud Region, Anthony Borré, the Deputy Mayor of Nice, Marie-Amélie Le Fur, President of the French Paralympic and Sports Committee, and Edgar Grospiron, President of the Organizing Committee for the 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The SOP, initiated in 2017, marks its eighth edition this year.
Its primary objective is to encourage physical activity from an early age, targeting children from kindergarten through to university.
Participating schools organize workshops aimed at instilling the values of Olympism and Paralympism, while also raising awareness about disability issues.
This year, over 660,000 participants are expected to take part across more than 2,150 educational establishments throughout France.
At Lycée Masséna, nearly 700 students engaged in various activities highlighting the four key actions promoted during the 30 minutes of daily physical activity: jumping, throwing, running, and dancing.
Marie Barsacq noted the significance of this edition of the SOP as it follows the Paris 2024 Olympics, emphasizing the need to extend the legacy of these games and cultivate the Olympic spirit among youth.
She highlighted the importance of sports in fostering inclusion and educational values alongside family and school environments.
Edgar Grospiron underlined the vital role of sports in schools as a means to combat bullying.
He reflected on his own experiences, stating, 'When I was a kid at school, I might not have been bullied, but I was definitely bothered.
Once I started playing sports, the perception of me changed.
Sports is a powerful tool for personal development and self-confidence.'
In this context, Renaud Muselier reiterated the Sud Region’s commitment to youth and sports, announcing three significant investments: €50 million for the preservation and enhancement of Lycée Masséna, a historically classified monument, €40 million for modernizing high school sports facilities to promote student well-being and engagement in physical activities, and a secured sports budget for 2025 to support local clubs and develop infrastructure in anticipation of the 2030 Games.
The 2030 Winter Olympic Games were a central theme during this ministerial visit.
Marie Barsacq expressed her satisfaction in being in Nice as part of this initiative leading up to the Games, stating, 'This year, the SOP clearly aligns with the framework of the 2030 Winter Olympic Games, which will take place in the French Alps.' Following her visit to Lycée Masséna, Barsacq also toured the National Sports Museum and the Allianz Riviera Stadium for a working meeting regarding the Alps French 2030 project.
