After brilliantly organizing the Alpine Skiing World Cup, the Rugby World Cup, then the Olympic and Paralympic Games, France seems to have finally acquired its credentials in terms of hosting major international sporting events. Even the most pessimistic of commentators can only note that Paris will not inherit “white elephants”, these costly infrastructures impossible to maintain, that there has been no Olympic tax and that the whole world applauded the excellence of an organization which did not encounter the slightest hiccup.
« The Host City Curse Has Been Brokenanalyzes Virgile Caillet, general director of Union Sport & Cycle, which brings together 3,000 companies in the sports sector. Public opinion became aware that not only did these major events not represent a threat and offered unique moments of communion and collective fervor, but that they also opened new perspectives for the economy, employment, attractiveness or even diplomacy. This is a decisive recognition for sport, which is no longer seen as a simple leisure activity, but as an economic sector in its own right. »
The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, a turning point for the Greater Paris Metropolis
As France prepares to host many major sporting events before relighting the Olympic flame for the 2030 Winter Games – which places it in the top 10 of countries organizing major international sporting events – this change of public opinion on sport could amplify its co-benefits for society as a whole.
« Sport as a “soft power” contributes to world peace by creating links between people, explains Sébastien Moreau, deputy interministerial delegate for major sporting events. Since 2013, France has had an ambassador for Sport, attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But sport also offers opportunities to vibrate and shiver together, which contributes to the production of raw happiness, which is absolutely invaluable. This sharing of strong emotions is the real driving force behind sporting events, which irrigates the territories and increases their economic and tourist attractiveness. »
A recent study by the Ministry of Sports thus highlights that the 2023 World Ski Championships generated an economic impact of nearly 40 million euros on the Savoie Mont-Blanc territory, to which is added an impact of 41.5 million nationally. The Vendée, which will celebrate with great fanfare the start of the Vendée Globe on November 10, also owes a lot to this event which gives it a strong identity and ensures its tourist dynamism. In 2016, 2.25 million visitors generated 35 million euros in economic benefits, while media coverage was estimated at 15 million advertising equivalents for the department…
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Significant amounts, but which also do not take into account what Paris 2024 has designated under the term “legacy” and which brings together under a single term notions as diverse as the development of renewable energies and soft mobility, the modification uses in terms of transport, waste treatment, food or sports, the construction of social housing and sports infrastructure or even highlighting the issues of parity, inclusion and youth …
« In a context of adaptation to climate change, major sporting events offer French companies a springboard to innovate while making millions of people dream, analyzes David Drahi, president of the Com Over agency which supported Paris 2024, the Rugby World Cup, the world para-athletics championships, the NBA matches in Paris and the Vendée Globe. I am also convinced that the organization of the Winter Games in France will make it possible to profoundly transform the mountain economy by inventing new solutions to preserve resources and biodiversity and limit carbon emissions. This is an immense challenge that would have to be tackled no matter what to save the sector, and the organization of the Games could, here again, accelerate us on the path to sustainability. »
