The Legacy and Sustainability plan for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games — 78 EDUCATION, A CENTRAL COMPONENT OF THE OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC MOVEMENT The International Olympic Committee (IOC) positions education as a central component of Olympism, as reflected in the first of its fundamental principles: “Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles.” It is a belief that is shared by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). This IOC principle sums up what Paris 2024 sets out to achieve in terms of education and civic engagement: we want to increase physical activity and sports opportunities for young people, harness sport and its values as an educational tool and use them to drive engagement. In France, physical education (PE) is compulsory throughout every child’s entire school career. There should be 3 hours of PE classes per week for primary school children, 4 hours per week f or 11-year-old middle school children, 3 hours per week between the ages of 12 and 15, and 2 hours per week for high school children aged 16 and upwards. In pre-school and elementary schools, year group teachers are required to teach the entire curriculum, including PE. Some schools receive support from qualified personnel approved by the French State to teach PE. In secondary schools (middle schools and high schools), PE is taught by specially trained teachers 21 . Teachers who give PE lessons have a key role to play. Teaching this essential subject, which conjugates physical exertion, sporting activity and artistic expression with a learning objective, is just one way in which all children are able to enjoy fair and equal access to sport and physical activity. Alongside PE teachers, the entire educational community, school sports federations, leaders and volunteers from local sports clubs have come together to provide an invaluable public interest service for our young people, and Paris 2024 is keen to support and champion their efforts. Further to PE lessons, school and university sports federations also play an important role by offering children and young people the possibility to take part in sport and physical activity through sports clubs. The various federations include the Sports Education Union for Primary Education, the French National School Sport Union (operating in middle and high schools), the Sports Union for Free Instruction (private schools) and the French University Sport Federation. SPORT TO IMPROVE EDUCATION AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT 21. Article L. 312-3 of the French Education Code (Code de l’éducation)