The third edition, due to conclude on Saturday (February 9), was launched at a secondary school in northern Paris.

It is taking place in educational establishments across France, from nursery schools to universities.

Supported by the French Ministry of Education and the sports movement, Olympic and Paralympic week is a key event in Paris 2024’s educational programme, which seeks to promote education through sport and put civic and sporting values at the heart of learning.

Dora Maar Secondary School was chosen for the launch because of its close proximity to the future Paris 2024 Athletes' Village and was attended by notable names including Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet and Sophie Cluzel, French State Secretary in charge of People with Disabilities.

Athletes taking part in French, history, geography and English lessons, in which sport was used as an educational tool, included handball players Daniel Narcisse and Thierry Omeyer, boxer Sarah Ourahmoune, Para-athlete Arnaud Assoumani, fencer Astrid Guyart and Para-swimmer Charles Rozoy.  

After speaking to students about the values of sport, particularly diversity and the need to be more active - the two core themes of the 2019 Olympic and Paralympic week - the athletes took part in sporting activities involving boxing, football, handball and table tennis, 

They were joined by footballers Aminata Diallo and Katarzyna Kiedrzynek, and blind footballer Viknesh Anbarasan.

Representing France’s talented "Generation 2024" of athletes were 14-year-old table tennis player Prithika Pavade and 17-year-old boxer Tallya Brillaux, the silver medallist in the women’s under-75 kilograms category at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

After sharing their experiences as young athletes with the students, they pitted their respective skills against Olympic medallists Jean-Philippe Gatien and Ourahmoune.

"Olympic and Paralympic week is a key annual event in Paris 2024’s educational programme," Estanguet said.

"Every year it shines the spotlight on the positive impact that sport can have, beyond the staging of the Games, by using it and its benefits and values as a driving force for change.

"We believe in the power of sport.

"We believe sport has a contribution to make to a more active, more inclusive and outward-looking society.

"School is a vital place for passing on these values and for promoting positive behaviour in children from a very young age."

Since 2017, Olympic and Paralympic week has been part of the French Ministry of Education syllabus.