France’s MOVE Week preparations have received a valuable boost of support from the French Ministry of Sport, which has announced it will place MOVE Week 2014 under its patronage.

Despite a cabinet reshuffle in April, the Ministry of Sport agreed to back MOVE Week in France this year, as the Ministry of Women’s Rights, Towns, Youth and Sport had done so last year.

Its support comes as a high profile reward for the collaborative efforts of six French sports federations, ASPTT, FSCF, FSGT, EPMM Sport Pour Tous, UFOLEP, USEP, and social development organisation La Ligue de l'enseignement. Together these organisations approached newly appointed Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem to ensure the patronage agreement and, meanwhile, have been busy urging local, regional and national MOVE Agents to register events.

So far, they anticipate 40 events to take place throughout France during MOVE Week from 29 September to 5 October. Highlights include an after work Nordic walking event in Lyon, a youth event in Limousin giving participants the chance to try different physical activities, and a family walk on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe.

France’s National Coordinator, Aurélie Darcis, says that she is delighted to see France’s preparations progress so well in the countdown to MOVE Week, and the Ministry’s support will give the event a boost all over France.

“It is an asset for us for different reasons,” she says. “First, it gives MOVE Week credibility among the public. Second, it helps MOVE Week position itself toward the week ‘Sentez-vous Sport’ from 13 to 21 September, organised by the French Olympic Committee, which also received the patronage of the Ministry.”

Keep track of the MOVE Week events registered in France here

Read all the latest MOVE Week news on the official NowWeMOVE Blog