French sport threatened to lose 33% of its state subsidies for the year 2025… In the midst of debates on the budget (finance bill) between parliament and the government, major figures in sport – including the cycling – protest against the heavy losses announced. And, surprise, this Wednesday afternoon: President Emmanuel Macron announced that these personalities have “raison”.
A TRIBUNE OF 425 ATHLETES
The protest against the sports movement accelerated this Wednesday with the publication of two articles in the press. The first, in The Parisianis notably signed by David Lappartient, president of the UCI and the CNOSF. The second, relayed in The Teambrings together 425 athletes who participated in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. Among them, 18 cyclists including the entire men's BMX podium (Joris Daudet, Sylvain André, Romain Mathieu), but no road cycling star.
“French sport costs nothing compared to what it brings”, say the athletes in their stands. Recalling the consequences of a national budget deprived of a third of its revenues: “Less physical activity at school”, “Fewer educators trained to supervise inclusive practices”, “A broken high-level chain, athletes less well supported”, “The non-respect of millions of club volunteers”, etc.
At this stage, and despite the support provided by Emmanuel Macron, nothing says that French sport will win its case. Because the government of François Bayrou, using the figures of his predecessor Michel Barnier, has included sport in its policy of reducing public spending. Credits allocated to sport (which represent 0.2% of the state budget) should increase from 909 million euros (2024) to 607 million (2025).
-82 MILLION SAVINGS FOR THE Loire COUNTRIES
In the short term, only marginal victories seem possible. Like preventing the government from applying a new cut of 34 million euros to sport. Senators opposed the measure in a vote last week. Since then, the Minister of Sports Marie Barsacq has herself recognized that this “request additional discount” was “disproportionate”.
Despite the sharply declining funding trend, the minister wants to be optimistic and indicates in West France that she intends to develop “women’s sport”, “the practice of people with disabilities” et “high performance to prepare for the 2030 Games” in the French Alps. In any case, the possible maintenance of the 34 million credits weighs little compared to the almost 300 million reductions envisaged.
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Added to this disengagement of the State are blows in certain municipalities and communities. Thus the Regional Council of Pays de Loire, which voted this winter 85 million savings in sport, culture and community life. Among the victims of these budgetary choices in the world of cycling, the Classic Loire-Atlantique, deprived of 15,000 euros in regional subsidies, and which announced on Monday the cancellation of its 2025 edition.
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