Section 2: Federal performance projects

In disciplines recognised as high level, the delegated sports federations may request validation, under the term “Federal Performance Project”, of the policy and measures they are putting in place to enable athletes to reach the highest level in their discipline, as well as to ensure their training and preparation for professional life.

Validation of federal performance projects is subject to the presentation, by the relevant delegating federation, of an application setting out the two programmes mentioned in 3° of article L. 131-15: 1° A sports excellence programme which defines the federal strategy for preparing French teams for performance; 2° A programme for access to high-level sport, which defines the federal strategy for detection and training for access to the programme of excellence….

Federal performance projects include structures managed separately or jointly, particularly on the basis of an agreement, by the delegated federation concerned, by an association affiliated to it, or by a legal entity governed by public law. They are mainly made up of structures or groups of structures called “pôles France” or “pôles Espoirs” that meet the conditions set out in articles R. 221-20 and R. 221-21.

A “Pôle France” is any permanent structure or group of structures linked to each other, in particular by agreement, mainly hosting athletes registered on the list of top-level athletes provided for in article R. 221-1 of the present code in the Elite, Senior or Rookie categories and enabling them to benefit from: 1° High-level sports preparation ; 2° A school or university education adapted in accordance with articles L. 331-6…

A “pôle Espoirs” is any structure or group of structures linked to each other, in particular by agreement, which mainly takes in athletes registered on the list of “Espoirs” athletes provided for in article R. 221-11 and enables them to benefit from the training and preparation provided for in 1° to 3° of article R. 221-20. Espoir centres” may only take in athletes who are at least twelve years old…

Validation is granted by order of the Minister for Sport. It is valid for a period of four years from the 1st July immediately following the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games and, for disciplines on the programme of the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, from the 1st January immediately following these Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The national technical director of the relevant federation ensures that the federal performance project, which has been validated in accordance with the conditions set out in this section, functions correctly.

Each year, the Minister for Sport draws up and publishes the list of “France Centres” and “Hope Centres”.