Ministry of Sport and Ministry of City
Sports facilities in Greater Paris: Perspectives for 2030
In 2011 Keneo carried out a study of sports facilities in the Greater Paris region.
- Challenge: Identification of key sports facilities that would allow Greater Paris to establish its position as a leading sports city.
- Keneo’s plan: Assessment of the existing infrastructure, future needs analysis and the identification of facilities required for Greater Paris to enhance its standing and host major international events.
- Outcome: The study yielded findings that supported two government departments in reaching decisions on high-priority sites, and highlighted the criteria to be taken into account in analysing future projects. It also put forward ideas for the development of elite professional clubs across the region.
Greater Paris aims to once again become known as a leading sports city capable of organising leading sporting events, as well as provide a home base for elite sports clubs and an environment in which all sports stakeholders can flourish.
Sport has the potential to become a driving force for the social and economic development of the areas that make up Greater Paris and for promoting regional identity.
In conducting an analysis of the existing infrastructure and ongoing projects for the construction and renovation of key facilities, the study found that Greater Paris would, by 2015, be in a position to present competitive bids for staging major international events, with the notable exception of swimming.
In regards to Greater Paris’ objective of hosting the Olympic Games, the priority is to identify the correct sites with a view to put together a successful operational plan rather than focusing on permanent facilities. In short, the study underlined the need to promote the recurring use of facilities as opposed to determining needs based on major one-off events.
Aside from the construction of major facilities for use on the national and international stage, the study revealed that emphasis should be given to supporting the development of large professional sports clubs with access to the resources they need and with links to the areas that make up Greater Paris. These clubs have the potential to become powerful levers, in a financial, regional and social sense.
As part of an original and groundbreaking initiative, federation offices or even a sports cluster could be created to bring economic, research, training and sports stakeholders together in regional projects. Such an initiative could be a solid component of a future Olympic bid.
The study also underlined the key factors essential to the success of different projects. While respecting one another’s roles and responsibilities, sporting and public stakeholders must work with each other to achieve long-lasting success in a prominent region (thanks to its history and size) all the while creating a strong financial capacity (investment and implementation) and fostering an unmistakable passion for sport (identity, history, people, etc).
The study was conducted in partnership with ISC and Algoé.
The Ministry of Sport website: www.sports.gouv.fr
The Ministry of City website: www.ville.gouv.fr
Keneo Contacts : ethobois@keneo.fr ; edonnelly@keneo.fr
