Léon Marchand Criticizes French Government's Decision on School Sports Program

The Olympic champion expresses disappointment over the government's rollback of additional sports hours in schools.

Léon Marchand, a celebrated Olympic swimmer, has publicly criticized the French government's decision to halt the expansion of additional weekly sports hours in schools.
The initiative aimed to introduce two extra hours of sports per week in all French colleges by 2026 but has been deemed unsustainable by the Ministry of Education.
Marchand used a clown emoji on social media to express his disapproval, highlighting the irony of the decision against the backdrop of promoting sports as a national priority.
The program had shown positive results in encouraging physical activity among students who are less engaged in regular sports, according to initial trials in 715 schools.
The government has decided to focus the program on priority education zones, where sports participation rates are notably lower.