French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday encouraged people of all ages in France to exercise regularly, as the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games were being marked with the second edition of the Sports Festival, EFE reports.

Sport is “a school of life, a pleasure, a way to be happy”, Macron said in a video recorded in an inner courtyard of the Élysée Palace and posted on his social media accounts.

The French head of state highlighted the success of the Games held in France in 2024 and the record number of medals won by the French teams, but called for the momentum generated by the event to be kept alive and for physical activity to be turned into a lifelong habit.

“So do sport. Do not let the flame of what we experienced during those Olympic and Paralympic Games go out,” Macron said.

The president advocated taking up a sport from childhood through to old age and called for a greater presence for sport in the education system.

He therefore argued for maintaining at least half an hour of daily physical activity in primary school and strengthening participation in sport in secondary school and at university.

But Macron also extended his appeal to adults and older people, viewing sport as a tool both for preventive healthcare and for promoting wellbeing and personal development.

Fête de la Sport (Sports Festival), held on 14 September, was created after the 2024 Paris Olympic Games as an annual event intended to build on the momentum generated by the biggest sporting event held in France.

Its concept is partly inspired by Fête de la Musique (Music Festival), which mobilises towns and associations across the country every year.

The first edition took place in September 2025, with thousands of sporting activities organised throughout France, in an effort to introduce sport to people who do not regularly take part in a discipline and to encourage clubs and associations to open their doors to new members.

Macron also used his message to thank the volunteers who keep clubs and sports associations running, from organising competitions and training sessions to mentoring children and young people and officiating.

“All these clubs operate because there are volunteers throughout France,” he remarked.

The French president ended his speech with an appeal that summed up the objective of the day: “Do sport. It is today, it is all year round. Do not let the flame go out.”

AGERPRES