Sports

Sports and Outdoors Activities, One of Area’s Great Attractions and Also a Dynamic Economic Sector

Provence enjoys one of the world’s most exceptional natural environments as well as one of Europe's most welcoming climates. With 300 days of sun a year and mild winters, it is a hotbed for outdoor activities from rock-climbing to sailing and from golf to scuba diving. The Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis is also home to major sporting events; it regularly welcomes the Tour de France, it hosted games during the Euro 2016 football tournament, and it is home to acclaimed professional football and rugby teams. It’s no surprise that Marseille was named European Capital of Sport in 2017! This vibrant athletic and outdoor community has also attracted businesses and entrepreneurs from the sports economy that are invested in new projects and in testing innovative products.

Recognising that the sports sector can be a major engine for economic development and investment appeal for the metropolis, there are now plans to create a specific sports-related ecosystem that will be able to benefit from Provence's ideal sports climate, its exceptional infrastructure such as the Orange Vélodrome stadium or the Cercle des Nageurs swimming center, and its network of organizations and institutes dedicated to innovation in sports science and sports management.

Key Figures from the Sports Sector in Provence

• 3200 separate sports facilities
• 10 000 jobs in the sector
• €1.5 billion in annual turnover
• 400 000 licensed members of sports clubs
• 4400 athletic clubs affiliated with national sports federations
• 227 nationally certified elite athletes

Provence’s Sports Economy Advantage

- Renowned applied research programs in sports sciences: Aix-Marseille University features several research units dedicated to issues involving sports, science, technology, and health, notably a world-renowned science of movement laboratory.

- Technosport Marseille Luminy: This site located in the heart of the Calanques national park is the foundation for the coming sports cluster in the Aix-Marsielle-Provence Metropolis. As one of Europe’s leading university research platforms in the field, it provides a space where athletes, researchers, industry specialists, and scientists work together to analyze biomechanics and sports performance. This multi-discipline approach aims to increase the amount of cross-sector innovation. The TechnoSport Marseille Luminy site features:

• €20 million in equipment
• 150 researchers
• 18 400 m2 fully equipped sports field,
• 500 m2 weight room,
• 2500 m2 fully equipped gymnasium,
• 640 m2 climbing wall,
• 510 m2 research facilities
• 2 laboratories: Institute of the Sciences of Movement and Sport MG Performance

- A Strong Commitment to the Sector’s Professional Development: A growing network of institutes and faculties dedicated to training and education including a sports medicine program and a sports law center that was jointly created by Aix-Marseille University and Kedge Business to develop expertise in sports management, marketing, and logistics.

- The Sports & Wellness Initiative: The Provence Sport & Lifestyle association is conducting research into the use of sports to improve the quality of work life.

This project is being supported by the French government and private sector forms such as Sodexo, Voyage Privé, OM Attitude, Decathlon, Avenir Telecom, Dental Biotech, and Arema.