Sport: Major National Cause 2024

In this year marked by the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the President of the Republic has decreed that physical and sports activity will be the major national cause for 2024. Whether you are already an athlete or not, we invite you to discover why this Olympic year is the perfect opportunity to move more.

2024: A Year Marked by Sports.

As France prepares to welcome athletes from around the world for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, sport will be in the spotlight throughout the year.

By declaring physical and sports activity as the "national cause for 2024," the President of the Republic aims to achieve three objectives:
1. Place sport at the heart of public policies.
2. Mobilize the country's driving forces to promote sports practice across France.
3. Encourage the French to engage in more physical and sports activities.

The success of the Olympic Games hosted in France this year will not be measured solely by the number of medals won. The ambition of the 2024 Olympics is also to rekindle the French people's enthusiasm for physical and sports activities.

According to official statistics, only 5% of the French regularly engage in sports. 95% of the adult population in France lacks physical activity or spends too much time sitting. Among the youth, 66% of teenagers exhibit excessive inactivity and screen dependency, according to Anses.

Sedentary lifestyle declared public enemy number one.

The national grand cause for 2024 will not only enhance the value of sport in all its forms but also intensify the fight against sedentary lifestyles through a major communication campaign titled "Move 30 minutes every day!" The Olympic year is an opportunity for public authorities to relay this prevention message, which is still not followed enough...

Sedentariness is a scourge for the health of French people of all ages. A study conducted by Professor François Carré, a cardiologist and sports physician, involving 10,000 middle school students revealed that over three decades, the physical capacity of an 11-year-old has decreased by 15%. Doctors are also observing cases of heart attacks, diabetes, and depression in under 30s, whereas these were previously common in those over 50.

Fortunately, it is always possible to reverse the trend and get back into sports to feel good, both in the short and long term. The same study showed that it is possible to reverse the situation in just 6 weeks, if one is sufficiently motivated to break free from the "addiction to the chair" which kills more than tobacco!

Physical and sports activity is the best prevention and the best "medicine" against many diseases. Scientific studies confirm that regular physical activity reduces the risk of developing a chronic disease (heart attack, stroke, Alzheimer's, cancer...) by 20 to 30%. Sport is also one of the best remedies against stress and depression.

According to Professor Carré, no medicine is more effective than moving to improve life expectancy in good health, and all activities, even simple walking, are beneficial.

How to participate in the great national cause 2024?

We can all act at our level, individually or collectively, to make this great national cause a success. 2024, an Olympic year, is the perfect time to take up good sports resolutions. No fewer than three ministries, including those of sports, health, and territorial organization, have committed to simplify access to sports practice.

Doctors are now encouraged to prescribe sports on prescription, or more precisely, adapted physical activity (APA). Moreover, contrary to popular belief, performing an exercise stress test is not essential before resuming physical activity for seniors over 60 years old. This examination is only necessary if physical activity causes significant shortness of breath and excessive sweating.

To assess your level of sedentariness and get a real sense of your physical activity, you can fill out the questionnaire available on the mangerbouger.fr website. You can also perform the stair test, which involves measuring the number of steps you can climb without stopping.

If you are already a regular athlete, keep it up but try to diversify your physical activities! The ideal is to alternate disciplines or exercises to work on cardio, endurance, balance, flexibility, and muscle strengthening... Don't hesitate to set yourself an ambitious program because the World Health Organization recommends a total of 300 minutes of physical activity per week, which is equivalent to one hour per day from Monday to Friday.