According to the European Commission's Eurobarometer special 574 on sports and physical activity, France continues to lag behind the European average in regular sports practice. The survey, conducted between April and May 2026 among more than 26,000 people across the 27 EU member states, including 1,016 in France, found that 39 percent of French respondents engage in sports or exercise at least several times a week, compared to 47 percent at the European level. The Netherlands and Finland show the highest levels, with 75 percent and 80 percent of respondents practicing at least several times a week. In France, about four out of ten respondents say they never do sports or exercise in a sports context, a proportion close to the European average. However, when the definition of physical activity is broadened to include walking, cycling, dancing, or gardening, 60 percent of French respondents report practicing physical activity outside of a sports context at least several times a week, compared to 71 percent on average in the European Union. The places where people engage in physical activity confirm this diversity. The outdoors remain a preferred setting, both in France and in Europe. Parks and outdoor spaces are at the top, while travel between home, work, school, or stores also plays an important role. Dedicated infrastructure, notably fitness centers, therefore constitute only part of the ecosystem. France, however, stands out by the role of sports clubs. Among those who practice physical activity, 22 percent declare to be members of a sports club, compared to 16 percent on average in Europe. Conversely, membership in a fitness or weight loss center concerns 10 percent of French respondents, compared to 21 percent at the European level. Health is the main driver of physical activity in France, with 45 percent of practitioners citing the improvement or maintenance of their physical health among their motivations. Relaxation also ranks highly, with 48 percent of responses, ahead of the improvement of physical performance, cited by 18 percent of respondents. Travel from one place to another is also a motivation for 29 percent of respondents. The perceived benefits of sports are widely shared. In France, 95 percent of respondents believe that sports and physical activity contribute to improving mental health, compared to 93 percent in the European Union. A very large majority also considers that they promote bonds within a community and can improve the well-being of marginalized groups. A major difficulty remains: transforming this conviction into a habit. In France, 33 percent of respondents cite lack of time as an obstacle to more regular practice. Lack of motivation or interest comes next, with 25 percent of responses. Health problems or injuries are mentioned by 15 percent of respondents, while 13 percent believe that sports is too expensive. The hierarchy of obstacles is similar to that observed across the European Union, where lack of time is also the main obstacle, cited by 37 percent of respondents. Cost comes after lack of motivation, but remains a concrete obstacle for part of the population. In this regard, difficulties in accessing sports do not only relate to the availability of equipment: they also relate to life rhythms, family constraints, and available resources. The question of price deserves to be nuanced. Declared sports expenditures remain limited in a large part of the population, but this does not necessarily mean that access is easy. A low expenditure can also indicate autonomous practice, without subscription or club registration, or occasional activity. For economic actors, the difficulty is therefore to offer accessible formats without renouncing the quality of guidance and services. In France, 82 percent of respondents practicing physical activity declare to spend less than 50 euros per month. This is more than the European average, set at 75 percent, and one of the highest rates in the European Union, behind notably Hungary (84 percent) and Slovakia (83 percent). On the contrary, monthly expenses between 50 and 100 euros concern a minority of French people. Amounts above this are even more marginal. In several countries, the declared expenditure is significantly higher: 27 percent of respondents in Austria and Cyprus indicate to spend between 50 and 100 euros per month on their sports practice. The survey also highlights the role that citizens attribute to sports in their lives. In France, 54 percent of respondents believe it occupies an important place, whether they practice it, watch it, or follow it as supporters. The proportion is slightly lower than the European average, which reaches 55 percent. The survey also reveals a margin of progress in sports volunteering. In France, only 6 percent of respondents declare to currently perform volunteer work in service of sports, while 2 percent plan to engage in it in the next two months. Therefore, the majority does not intend to participate in this type of commitment in the short term. For clubs, federations, local authorities, and sector companies, the challenge remains the same: facilitating the transition from interest in sports to regular practice. French data show that the desire to preserve health and feel better is well present. However, lack of time, financial constraints, and lifestyle habits continue to limit practice. The European comparison also reminds that activity levels are not a fate. The differences observed between countries show that behaviors vary greatly according to contexts. For French sports, the challenge is therefore not only to generate adherence to the discourse on the benefits of physical activity, but to make practice simpler, more accessible, and easier to integrate into daily life.