French people love sport!
More than two thirds of them regularly take part in a sporting activity. The most popular sports are football, rugby, tennis, cycling, swimming , skiing and handball.
The French football team celebrating after they won the World Cup in 1998.
The Tour de France, a cycling event, is extremely popular in France.
thbtourdefrance
© MAE - F. de La Mure
Many French sportsmen and sportswomen are known around the world
You have probably heard a lot about Zinedine Zidane (footballer), Amélie Mauresmo (tennis player) and Laure Manaudou (swimmer).
As well as these popular sports, the French can engage in every kind of sporting activity: France’s geography and climate provide a wealth of opportunities for water and winter sports. In some fields, such as sailing, judo, fencing, and motor racing, the French are among the best in the world.
Here are a few examples of the different sports you can enjoy in France:
Skiing in the Alps or the Pyrenees
© MAE - F. de La Mure
Windsurfing © MAE - F. de La Mure
Kayaking in French rivers © MAE - F. de La Mure
Sailing - port de La Rochelle (Poitou-Charentes) © MAE - Y-J. Chen