About 3,000 young people in schools, colleges, and high schools were made aware of environmental issues by more than 15 associations through the practice of physical and sports activities and the discovery of local initiatives, such as those initiated by local producers or local authorities, as well as by various local structures.

Each student association affiliated with ANESTAPS has thus been able to adapt the theme to its own territorial context and environmental issues throughout France.

In addition to working in secondary schools and high schools, students from various universities teaching physical education and sports science (STAPS) set up various activities.

In Nantes, for instance, students set up a waste sorting system, a recycling competition, a bicycle repair service, and a waste collection scheme. And while an awareness campaign on the link between global warming and ski resorts was organised in the city of Tarbes, students in Paris were taught selective sorting and a series of eco-responsible tips.

During the week, Andréas Cardot, vice-president in charge of Social Innovation at ANESTAPS, also mentioned the possibility of earning new diplomas such as the “eco-responsible leisure and sports” DEUST (a degree awarded after two years of university education in a range of science and technical courses).

When it comes to students enrolled in the Bachelor’s and Master’s STAPS programmes (sciences et techniques des activités physiques et sportives), sport is used to act on environmental issues and 87% of young people are ready to change their habits, the vice-president added.

The WWF, France’s sports ministry, and the Football Ecologie France association are among the project’s partners.

Created in 1999, ANESTAPS is today the only organisation representing the 67,000 STAPS students in France.

Entirely made up of volunteers, this student federation has 40 associations on its board of directors, with significant territorial coverage. Its objective is to train and inform elected representatives and association leaders so that they are competent to defend the rights and interests of students – both individually and collectively.

ANESTAPS is also working on the development of the popular education movement. In addition to this first edition of the National Week of Sport and Environment, the association is organising several national projects to respond to societal issues and promote the sector both to socio-economic actors and the general public.

In particular, ANESTAPS is organising the National Day of Sport and Disability, Solidari’STAPS – which aims to address the issues related to precarity in France – and EducTour, which encourages dialogue among students on issues not addressed in school.



[Edited by Zoran Radosavljevic]