Promoting sport
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The Principality of Monaco's commitment to sport goes far beyond the major sporting events that take place here. Whether at the highest level, in schools or as a pastime, sport is part of daily life in Monaco, with the Prince's Government providing not only high-quality facilities but also funding for associations and sporting events at all levels.
In schools, physical education and swimming lessons are included in the syllabus and are taught from a very young age by specialist teachers. Wherever possible, school buildings are equipped with the sports facilities needed to practise basic individual or team sports (gymnasiums, swimming pools). Pupils take part in inter-class and inter-school tournaments, as well as UNSS (Union Nationale du Sport Scolaire) competitions, particularly in rowing, athletics, gymnastics, team sports, fencing and climbing.
Support for amateur sports, particularly among young people, is provided by almost 100 sports associations, many of which receive state funding. Furthermore, school sports facilities are open to associations outside of school hours, thus making the most of the sports infrastructure.
In addition, several initiatives are in place to bolster competitive sport: classes with flexible schedules are offered to middle school students with a significant number of training hours; a scheme granting elite Olympic athlete status has been introduced to encourage national athletes to participate in major events such as the Olympic Games and enable them to train in the best possible conditions, thanks mainly to flexible working hours; assistance is offered to national athletes and their federations, through the Monegasque Olympic Committee, as part of their preparations for the Olympics.
This steadfast approach has led to the Principality being represented at major sporting events such as the Olympic Games, the Mediterranean Games and the Jeux de la Francophonie (French Speakers' Games).