The French Sports and Cultural Federation (FSCF) is meeting for four days in Rennes. It is the oldest, with 120 years of existence. An academic symposium, then a congress, will show its vitality, including Ille-et-Vilaine.

The last time the French Sports and Cultural Federation (FSCF) held its convention in the West, it was in 1995, in Saint-Malo. She returns this week, this time to Rennes, where 900 congressists from all over France are expected until Sunday.

The kickoff was given Thursday, at the convent of the Jacobins, with a scientific symposium bringing together the universities of Rennes, Toulouse, Bordeaux and Calais (Littoral-Côte d'Opale). After two days of exchanges between researchers and students, place at the congress to be held Saturday and Sunday.

A scientific symposium began this Thursday at the Jacobin convent, before the congress of the FSCF to be held this weekend. | WEST FRANCE

A federation more than a century old

This year, the federation celebrates 120 years of existence. "Since 1898, it brings together associations sharing a common educational project, with values ​​of humanism," says its president, Christian Babonneau, a native of Loire-Atlantique. It is an affinity and multi-activity federation, unlike the sports federations that appeared later,

The FSCF was born with the old Catholic patronage. At the height of its history, in the inter-war period, it counted up to 1 million licensees. Today, it remains essential with more than 1,400 associations spread throughout the national territory (including Dom-Tom) and 217,000 licensed.

Gymnastics at the beginning of the 20th century

The pioneers were the gymnasts at the very beginning of the 20th century. Basketball, football, athletics then made their appearance in the FSCF, before creating their own federation. Since the beginning, the federation stands on both feet, sport and culture. "We can even add a third, popular education , " says Christian Babonneau.

Faithful to the spirit of Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the federation participated in the writing of the Olympic oath, pronounced for the first time at the 1920 Summer Olympics. "The federation has always wanted to be ahead of its time. . She was at the origin of the medical certificate. More recently, she has supported the development of sport-health. "

Christian Babonneau (left), national president of the FSCF, with Jean Chenot, president of the committee of Ille-et-Vilaine. | WEST FRANCE

Concerns for the future

Today, like the entire sports movement, she wonders about the future. Faced with declining budgets, the FSCF relayed a petition with the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) and the federations, "so that the sport benefits from means to the height of its human, economic and societal contributions. " The future National Sports Agency, which will be launched in 2019, does not reassure more. "This new governance worries, says Christian Babonneau, the preservation of a public service of sport is necessary. "