Ratty wrote:

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Coup Droit wrote:

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But all the others, i.e. each and every county, provide training (free) for promising youngsters, training for apprentice coaches, host competitions etc.

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Sorry to come across like some sort of extremist gonk, but of course what you mean by "free" is actually "paid for by other French people". And as I've said before, I'm perfectly happy that my British tax dollars are not used to pay for someone-I-don't-know's tennis lessons.  

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Yes, you're quite right; it is paid for by taxes.

But nearly all your taxes go on 'someone-you-don't-know' - that's the idea of general taxes.

And the reasoning is that by using taxes to subsidise tennis (and practically all other sports), you end up actually saving a lot of taxes by reducing health care expenses - people are fitter, happier and have a social outlet.

I can't back this up with scientific data, I'm afraid, but a good deal of personal experience leads to be believe it's true.

So if you'd rather your taxes went on interminable doctor/hospital waiting lists for someone-you-don't-know, that's fine - I'd prefer mine to go on sports facilities for Joe Public et al.