Sport and intercultural learning go hand in hand
Sport provides an ideal setting for opening up dialogue to as many people as possible. It forges connections, fosters a sense of community and facilitates understanding without the need to know the other person’s language.
The FGYO supports youth sports events
Regardless of the sport or level of performance, the intercultural dimension lies at the heart of the sports exchanges supported by the FGYO. The principle of reciprocity – which involves one exchange in France and one in Germany – is fundamental. It is important that young people from both countries set out to discover the partner country, whilst also introducing others to their own country. These exchanges may also involve a third country.
Within this framework, the FGYO subsidises travel costs, basic expenses and language support – which is essential for facilitating the exchanges. The FGYO’s partners are the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) and the Deutsche Sportjugend (dsj). These organisations play a key role in developing exchanges within the context of both grassroots and elite sport.
The FGYO supports projects across a wide range of sports. ‘Playin’in Paris’ brought young people together through basketball and dance as part of the Cultural Olympiad for the Paris 2024 Games. Partnerships have also been established during the Tour de France, as part of twinning schemes.
Sport as a vehicle for inclusion, promoting civic education
Sport is a tool for intercultural learning. It fosters communication beyond words, supports non-formal learning, and provides a setting in which differences can be freely expressed. Team sports play a particular role in this regard, as they promote values of respect and mutual support. At the FGYO, sport is therefore a driver of inclusion and equality. Particular attention is paid to young people with limited access to international mobility programmes. These young people account for more than a third of the participants in exchanges supported by the FGYO. Seminars and training courses regularly address topics such as the prevention of violence and discrimination, as well as integration through sport. They offer young people the opportunity to develop their critical thinking skills and to reflect together on the values that underpin living together in harmony.
Project examples
- The SoLeader programme – organised by the French Sports and Cultural Federation (FSCF) alongside the 2024 Paralympic Games – offered young people from France and Germany an experience centred on community engagement. It enabled them to get involved as volunteers, thereby immersing themselves in the values of inclusion, respect and solidarity.
- The ‘open stadium’ days organised as part of the Stade-Europe-Festival transformed stadiums into venues for civic and cultural education. The aim was to promote a positive image of Europe and intercultural learning amongst young people.
Volunteer programmes at major sporting events
Since 2006, the FGYO has been supporting volunteer programmes at major international sporting events. In partnership with the competitions’ organising committees, the FGYO gives young people the opportunity to get involved behind the scenes.
- Thanks to a volunteering programme, nine young people from France were able to get involved in organising the 2024 European Football Championship across various host cities in Germany.
- The Franco-German Youth Olympic Camp enabled 100 young people from France and Germany to experience the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at first hand. Participants were able to attend competitions and take part in numerous sporting and cultural activities.
Competitive sports as a forum for exchange
Competitive sport plays an important role in Franco-German exchanges. In rowing, training camps were organised shortly after the FGYO was founded, and these continue to bring together young athletes from both countries to this day.
These encounters provide an ideal setting for learning about different preparation and training methods, sharing a common sporting ambition and enriching the sporting experiences of all those involved. Beyond the sporting achievements themselves, these exchange projects strengthen cooperation between stakeholders in Germany and France. At the same time, they promote a sporting culture based on the exchange of expertise and the pursuit of personal excellence.
In our blog article, Christine Gossé – a four-time Olympian and former rowing coach – recounts her first Franco-German meeting and how this experience shaped her sporting and personal career.
A glimpse into the future
With a view to upcoming major international sporting events, such as the 2030 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in the French Alps and the 2027 Women’s European Football Championship, the FGYO is continuing its commitment to strengthening youth exchange through sport and promoting new forms of cooperation.