But why are so many of our French athletes in the armed forces? More than 70 of them are military or police officers, and many others work for the SNCF or the French Post Office.
From September 2 to January 7, 2024, the Musée de la gendarmerie nationale is unveiling two new temporary exhibitions, focusing on sport and the Republican Guard, in Melun.
It's not unusual to see gendarmes on horses roaming the streets of Paris. They are officers of the Garde républicaine, an armed force that originated in the capital in the 13th century and now resides in the Célestins district.
Members of the military now must be vaccinated – so have caregivers and firefighters. Starting from September 15, 2021, this obligation applies to all members of the military working in France to fight against the spread of Covid-19.
