Marie Barsacq, France’s current Minister of Sports, Youth and Community Life, has been a key figure in the organization of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, being primarily responsible for the legacy that the Games would leave in France. Her commitment to social inclusion through sport has been reflected in initiatives such as the presentation of a detailed report on the professional integration of young people at risk of exclusion. This document, presented on Tuesday, proposes a roadmap with 18 concrete proposals to harness the potential of sport as a tool for inclusion.
The report, entitled “Pact for Inclusion through Sport,” was drafted by Sarah Ourahmoune, 2016 Olympic boxing runner-up, along with Jean-Philippe Acensi, president of the Agency for Education through Sport (APELS), and Stéphane Viry, MP for the Vosges. This 64-page document analyzes existing initiatives and proposes measures to facilitate the labor market integration of young people who have dropped out of school and are far from employment.
COLLECTIVE RESPONSE TO EXCLUSION
“Sport has a potential in terms of inclusion that needs to be tapped,” stressed Sarah Ourahmoune during the presentation of the report. The former boxer also shared her personal experience of facing sexist and racist attacks during her candidacy for the presidency of the French Boxing Federation. “We must work together so that each person finds their place, regardless of their origin, gender or religion,” she stressed.
The report proposes, among other measures, the creation of safe pathways to professional integration for young people aged 16 to 30, especially those from priority neighborhoods (QPV) and rural areas. Jean-Philippe Acensi explained that this system has already been implemented in Garges-lès-Gonesse, where sports clubs identify young people, train them and offer them job opportunities in companies.
THE ROLE OF COMPANIES IN SPORTS INCLUSION
Pascal Gentil, double Olympic medalist in taekwondo and leader of the CSR project of the ADP group, a partner of Paris 2024, highlighted the growing interest of companies in leaving a social legacy through sport. “Before, sport was a fad; today, companies are looking to make a positive impact on society,” he said. This approach reinforces the importance of initiatives such as those proposed in the report.