November 2007 strikes in France retire with full pension benefits after 37.5 years rather than 40 years. The Sarkozy administration claims the current pension system allows some public sector workers to retire as early as age 50. The government calculated the cost of these early-retirement benefits at $7 billion a year. President Nicolas Sarkozy felt that his victory in the 2007 presidential election gave him a mandate to carry out labour reforms, stating "I said before I was elected what I would do," and "we will do these reforms because they have to be done." He declared the strikes a test of political will. "I
France at the 1996 Summer Olympics France at the 1996 Summer Olympics France competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States. 299 competitors, 197 men and 102 women, took part in 183 events in 25 sports. In France's sixth appearance in modern Olympic archery, defending gold medallist Sebastien Flute was defeated in the first round of elimination. Fellow veteran Severine Bonal was also defeated early, while Lionel Torres reached the quarterfinal. The men's team was defeated in the first round. Women's Individual Competition: Men's Individual Competition: Men's Team Competition: Men's 1,500 metres Men's 3,000 metres Steeplechase Men's Decathlon Men's Hammer Throw Men's 20 km