Australian Minister for Sport, Anika Wells, and French Minister for Sports and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Amelie Oudea-Castera, signed the declaration in Paris, as part of Minister Wells' visit to France.
The Declaration will encourage greater cooperation between the two nations, following the current World Cup, and in the lead up to the 2027 Men's and 2029 Women's Rugby World Cup in Australia and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris in 2024 and in Brisbane in 2032.
Areas of focus include sharing best practice in organising major sporting events, reducing the environmental impacts of sporting infrastructure and promoting sports industry in both nations.
There will also be opportunities to exchange information on sports ethics, anti-doping and corruption, sport science and medicine research, as well as the promotion of women's sport and parasports.
Australia and France also commit to sharing expertise in performance support, training and coaching, including for young athletes and officials.
The signing delivers on the commitment made by French President Emmanuel Macron and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in July 2022, to pursue cooperation and closer linkages between the two countries when hosting major global sporting events.
It also follows the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Australian Institute of Sport and the French National Institute of Sport, Expertise and Performance (INSEP) last year.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Sport, Anika Wells:
"While our two nations remain fierce foes on the sporting field, away from the competition, we are important partners and friends on the world stage.
"Sport is such a major part of both Australian and French culture, and it brings our people together through the shared values of mutual respect and equality.
"As we navigate Australia's green and gold decade of major sporting events, there is much we can learn from our French counterparts and their experience hosting large international events, including the current Rugby World Cup.
"We're also pleased to be able to share Australia's own expertise in event planning, infrastructure, sports industry, training and coaching."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Sports and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Amelie Oudea-Castera:
"On the occasion of the Rugby World Cup in France, I am delighted to sign with my Australian counterpart a Declaration of Intent in sport. This declaration will contribute to intensifying our already very strong links between our two countries.
"This Declaration opens a new chapter in sport cooperation between France and Australia, which share a common vision of sport based on universal values.
"We will share our experiences and good practices in sight of our respective organisation of major international sport events, especially the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris in 2024 and in Brisbane in 2032.
"France aims at building with its partners a new reference for major international sport events so they can be more responsible, more inclusive and that they can leave a long-standing legacy for the role of sport in our societies."
