French Sports Code
In forceSports associations can only benefit from State aid if they have been approved.
Approval is based in particular on the existence of statutory provisions guaranteeing the democratic operation of the association, the transparency of its management and equal access for women and men to its governing bodies, as well as the signing of a contract of republican commitment mentioned inarticle 10-1 of law no. 2000-321 of 12 April 2000 on the rights of citizens in their relations with administrations.
The republican commitment contract referred to in 4° ofarticle 25-1 of the same law also includes a commitment by the association to ensure the protection of the physical and moral integrity of individuals, in particular minors, from sexist and sexual violence, under conditions determined by a decree of the Conseil d'Etat issued after consultation with the French National Olympic and Sports Committee.
The affiliation of a sports association to a sports federation approved by the State in application of article L. 131-8 and the signing of the republican commitment contract mentioned in the third paragraph of this article constitute approval. The sports federation informs the State representative in the département where the sports association has its registered office of the association's affiliation.
For sports associations not affiliated to a sports federation approved by the State in application of article L. 131-8, approval is granted by the State representative in the département.
The representative of the State in the département may withdraw the approval granted to a sports association or resulting from the affiliation provided for in the fourth paragraph of this article if it employs people who do not meet the obligations provided for in articles L. 212-1, L. 212-2 and L. 212-9 or if it fails to meet the obligations provided for in articles L. 322-1 and L. 322-2. It suspends or withdraws approval if the activities or the manner in which the sports association carries them out fail to comply with the contract of republican commitment that it has signed. He shall inform the federation to which the sports association is affiliated.
The State representative informs the mayor of the municipality in which the head office of the association whose approval has been suspended or withdrawn is located, as well as the president of the public establishment for inter-municipal cooperation.
In the event of the suspension or withdrawal of the approval of a sports association receiving a subsidy or the provision of public facilities, the authority or body that awarded the subsidy or the provision of public facilities may withdraw the subsidy or stop the provision of public facilities by means of a reasoned decision, after the association has been given the opportunity to present its observations under the conditions provided for in article L. 122-1 of the Code des relations entre le public et l'administration, and may order the association to reimburse the sums paid or, in the case of a grant in kind, its monetary value, within a maximum of six months of the withdrawal decision. <br/p><p> <br/>The State representative regularly informs the mayor as well as the president of the public establishment for inter-communal cooperation of the commune concerned of the approved sports associations whose head office is located within their territory. </p><p>The conditions of approval as well as the suspension and withdrawal of approval granted to an association or resulting from the affiliation provided for in the fourth paragraph are determined by decree in the Conseil d'Etat.</p>
