On the occasion of the 2012 edition of Parfum de Victoire organized by the CROS Côte d’Azur (“one of the most active in France,” according to national president Denis Masséglia while addressing Alain Koubi, regional president), the President of the Olympic Sports Committee officially presented the Club Ambition Sport to Yvon Grosso, President of UPE 06. This club aims to be the tool for companies to participate in the financing of French sports.
Indeed, in the face of the challenges public authorities (both national and local) are encountering in properly funding the sports movement, particularly for high-level athletes who need to represent France in international competitions, the CNSOF aims to be a vector in a program for uniting the sports world with the business world, creating synergies and conveying shared values.
First of all, stated Denis Masseglia, sports is a sector of the national economy with an annual turnover of 32 billion euros, which corresponds to 2% of the GDP (!).
From this observation, sports has all the legitimacy to positively engage with the business world as part of its social and societal approach: one only needs to consider the impact of sporting activities on personal well-being and the reduction of illnesses (particularly diabetes and cardiovascular diseases) to realize the usefulness of sports participation concerning healthcare expenses and actions for social cohesion, given the cost in light of a state budget burdened by debt and its repayment.
“Sports as an investment and not as an expense,” explains Denis Masseglia with the conviction of a preacher, making it clear that private financial contributions should not replace those of the state but should complement them.
‘State, local authorities, the business world, and the sports movement, here’s the winning combination for the future governance of French sports,’ summarized Denis Masseglia.
Echoing him, on behalf of the business world, was Yvon Grosso, President of UPE 06: “In France, we have a cost of 7 billion euros per year due to absenteeism, representing 252 million fewer hours worked. These figures clearly show the significant interest for companies. Moreover, the mindset of an athlete is parallel to business performance: both experience similar situations in different contexts, but oh, how alike they are. We will disseminate this Club Ambition Sport program to the 10,500 associated companies representing 285,000 employees, and I am sure of its success.”
– About the Club Ambition Sport:
The annual participation is 1,000 euros for SMEs (+10 employees) and 300 euros for very small enterprises (-10 employees).
In addition to the “philosophical” and image-related membership, the members of this club, which aims to bring together thousands of companies, will enjoy benefits that the CNSOF is currently developing.
