Covéa, now a major patron of the FFH, will also support athletes during their career and professional integration, and it is hoped that the programme funded by Covéa will uncover future high-level athletes.

"The entire Covéa group and its employees are proud to be involved with the FFH," said Thierry Derez, chairman and chief executive of Covéa. 

"Through this sponsorship, we want to support the development of sports practice for young people with disabilities. 

"We also want to enable them to carry out their life project and their professional integration."

The FFH promotes and develops sporting activities for people with motor, visual and hearing impairments.

This new partnership will fund advanced training courses for young people with potential, as well as efforts to attract youngsters to sport.

Covéa will also play a key role in organising the National Handisport Future Games, France's largest gathering of young athletes with physical and sensory disabilities, every two years.   

"The Covéa group's commitments, which are equal opportunities, knowledge, territories and prevention, echo and make sense with all the foundations of our federal project," added FFH President Guislaine Westelynck. 

"We are committed with the same determination on a daily basis to a better integration of people with disabilities in sport and more broadly in society."