This Tuesday, June 14, 2011, at 9:00 AM at the Grand Château de Valrose Theatre in Nice, the Sports Commission of the Union for Enterprise of the Alpes Maritimes is organizing, in partnership with the CROS Côte d’Azur and the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, a symposium on the theme “Sport-Health in Business: Strategic Challenges”. With presentations from Presidents Albert MAROUANI (UNSA), Alain KOUBI (CROS CA), and Yvon GROSSO (UPE06).
The health sector is currently facing several major challenges: dependency, the surge of chronic diseases, and significant increases in healthcare expenses. Moreover, the social and economic burden of chronic diseases—such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, heart failure, and chronic respiratory diseases—is becoming increasingly significant.
It is estimated that 15 million people in France are affected by these diseases. A figure in constant increase: in 10 years, it will reach 20 million. Finally, healthcare expenses are rising sharply: Health Insurance spending is now growing faster than GDP. Two-thirds of the adult population in the European Union have insufficient physical activity.
The average daily physical activity of the French has decreased from more than eight hours in the 18th century to less than one hour today, and the trend continues: nowadays, the time dedicated to physical and sports activities tends to decrease, mainly due to the substantial increase in so-called “sedentary” leisure activities and, more specifically, the development of “screen-based” activities consumption, which is increasing and starts at an increasingly young age. Currently, only 24% of employees are considered sufficiently active.
The context and stakes: why involve the business world in a health prevention plan through physical and sports activity (APS)?
The practice of APS is certainly not the solution to all the problems threatening companies and their employees, but it has proven its effectiveness in scientific studies on several indicators of good employee health.
The purpose of this symposium? To encourage companies to develop a sports activity offer for the benefit of their employees. On this occasion, the Sport Ticket initiated by MEDEF will be presented by Eric INGARGIOLA, Director at the national MEDEF and in charge of this project.
A number of existing incentive arrangements for sports practice in companies will also be discussed, as well as methods to evaluate their effectiveness and to promote best practices;
All this to encourage companies to develop a sports activity offer for the benefit of their employees using a “toolbox” containing several measures:
– a sports voucher with contributions from employers and employees, combined with a measure of tax compensation,
– adjustment of work hours,
– provision of facilities,
– appreciation of internal voluntary and professional supervisory capacities in the company,
– privileged access conditions to sports facilities.
by Delphine Starquit
