The French Handisport Federation, a key player in the nation's disabled sport, is facing financial crisis ©Getty Images

A little over a year and a half before the Paris 2024 Paralympics the French Handisport Federation (FFH) - which oversees a range of disabled sports in the country - is said to be in a "worrying financial situation" and facing a crisis.

According to an interim order published by the Court of Auditors, the FFH, which was set up in 1954 and assumed its current form in 1977, could be brought to a "cessation of payments" by the time of the Paralympics, which are due to take place from August 28 to September 8 2024, Le Monde and AFP report.

"In the current state of its investigations and in the absence of the rapid corrective measures it calls for, the Court considers that the risk of the FFH being in default of payments in the near future cannot be ruled out and, in any case, by the Paris 2024 Games," the Court report reads.

The FFH is one of three bodies responsible for Para-sport in France, along with the French Federation for Adapted Sport and the French Paralympic and Sports Committee.

The French Handisport Federation, a key player in the nation's disabled sport, is facing financial crisis ©Getty Images
The French Handisport Federation, a key player in the nation's disabled sport, is facing financial crisis ©Getty Images

This situation is due to an "accumulation of deficits since 2014", for an amount of €2.8 million (£2.4 million/$2.95 million), while the FFH benefits from “significant public subsidies”, around €4 million (£3.44 million/$4.22 million) annually on average.

The Court also notes "unregistered liabilities" for nearly €2 million (£1.72 million/$2.11 million) due to a conflict with the Paris City Hall over its rental debt. 

The Court of Auditors noted that the Handisport Federation violated its obligations of "transparent management" and that the sports management, which is responsible for it, "was not aware of the extent of the financial difficulties."

The Court invited the Government to look into "the financial crisis experienced by the FFH."

According to the figures cited in this summary, the FFH had 40 employees, a budget of €11 million (£9.45 million/$11.60 million) for 30,000 licensees in 2020.

The FFSA was reported to have 65,000 licensees and a budget of €5 million (£4.30 million/$5.27 million), with the comment: "It's situation appears to be rather sound financially."

The two structures are among the most financially-assisted French sporting federations.

But since 2016 they have lost their monopoly, and many federations manage their discipline for both able-bodied and disabled athletes.