Yes, sport is a real heavyweight in the economy. According to a study by the research department of the BPCE banking group in 2020, it would weigh an overall of €90.9 billion (by adding the budget of sports associations to the turnover of sports companies). In his new study titled “local authorities, the first funders of sport”, BPCE The Observatory this time focused on the public financing of sport, highlighting the determining role of local authorities. Each year, their contribution amounts to €12.5 billion, i.e. almost twice the budget of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This represents 60% of all public support, estimated at €20 billion – the latter includes, for example, the budget of the Ministry of Sports (€1 billion) and the salaries of sports teachers (€5.5 billion).

Municipalities owning 73% of French sports equipment

Municipalities primarily carry the sporting effort with €8 billion disbursed per year – the second item of expenditure after education – compared to the €3.1 billion allocated by intermunicipal authorities, the remaining €1.4 billion coming from departments and regions. To the credit of the municipalities: support for sports associations (360,000 in France) and professional clubs, the management and organization of sporting events, relations with the school world or the management of equipment. They also own 73% of the 318,000 sports facilities listed in France.

For Cyril Cloup, director of the National Association of Elected Officials in Charge of Sport (ANDES), the local authorities, which therefore hold a majority of the facilities, “hold the keys to the future of sport in France”. “We have before us unavoidable issues such as the climate; we must already anticipate and accelerate the energy transition of sports venues. » Alain Tourdjman rightly points out that out of a quarter of equipment heated in France, more than half is heated by gas.

A study on the expectations and needs of sports stakeholders in France, commissioned by the National Sport Agency (ANS), ANDES, CNOSF, the French Paralympic and Sports Committee and the Union Sport et Cycle, will be unveiled early next May. The sports revolution seems to be underway.