FICCI Sports Delegation Visits France to Explore Olympic Legacy and Strengthen India-France Sports Collaboration

As India continues to strengthen its ambitions of becoming a global sporting powerhouse and a future host of major international events, a delegation from the FICCI Sports Committee recently travelled to France to gain first-hand insights into the country's successful sporting ecosystem.

The delegation, comprising more than 20 representatives from India's sports industry, visited Paris and Marseille in collaboration with Business France. The visit focused on understanding how France has leveraged world-class sporting infrastructure, Olympic legacy planning, fan engagement and sustainable business models to create long-term value beyond hosting major events. The tour comes at a time when India is actively exploring opportunities to host global multi-sport events in the coming years, making knowledge-sharing exercises such as this increasingly valuable.

One of the key objectives of the visit was to understand how France has successfully transformed sporting infrastructure into commercially sustainable assets after hosting the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Rather than allowing venues to become underutilised after major events, French authorities have developed models that ensure facilities continue serving athletes, communities and businesses long after the Games conclude.

The delegation visited several iconic venues that showcased this philosophy in action. Among the highlights was the historic Marseille Velodrome, one of France's most recognisable football stadiums. Originally built in 1937, the stadium has evolved into a year-round destination that hosts not only football matches but also concerts, entertainment events and cultural programmes.

For the Indian delegation, the venue demonstrated how modern sports infrastructure can generate consistent commercial returns while remaining relevant throughout the year.

Discussions also focused on fan engagement strategies, where the matchday experience extends well beyond the 90 minutes of football. French sporting venues increasingly create full-day experiences through entertainment zones, digital activations, hospitality offerings and community events that enhance the overall value proposition for supporters.

The delegation also visited the Nautical Stadium that hosted sailing competitions during the Paris Olympics, along with the Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille swimming centre. These visits offered valuable insights into the operational management of Olympic venues and how infrastructure developed for elite competitions can be successfully repurposed for commercial use and community engagement after the Games.

For India, which is looking to expand its sporting infrastructure while avoiding the pitfalls of underutilised venues, these examples provide practical lessons in sustainable venue management.

Understanding how facilities transition from Olympic competition venues into everyday sporting and commercial assets was one of the central themes of the study tour.

The delegation was also hosted by the Consul General of India in Marseille, who introduced members to local businesses involved in preparations for the 2030 Olympic Winter Games. The interaction opened discussions around future partnerships between Indian and French organisations in areas including sports technology, infrastructure, event management and high-performance systems. Such collaborations are expected to play an increasingly important role as India prepares to host larger international sporting competitions over the coming decade.

Building relationships with countries that have successfully organised global events provides access to expertise that cannot easily be replicated through theoretical planning alone.

In Paris, the delegation participated in Riges 2026, an international conference dedicated to major sporting events. The event brought together experts from around the world to discuss the future of sports infrastructure, event hosting and legacy planning. Business France highlighted the objective of the visit as an opportunity to transfer knowledge gained through the successful organisation of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

During a dedicated session focused on India's sporting ambitions, FICCI Sports Committee Co-Chair and Adani Sportsline Chief Business Officer Sanjay Adesara outlined India's long-term vision.

"India has an ambition to become a sporting powerhouse. Hosting international sports events means a lot for India. Before 2030 games, we aim to host international events to build towards our Olympic ambition. As members of the FICCI Sports Committee, we collectively look forward to finding long term partners here in France across all expertise."

His remarks reflected India's growing focus on using international sporting events as catalysts for infrastructure development, athlete performance and economic growth.

Sportz Interactive CEO Siddharth Raman also shared his perspective during the conference, drawing on his experience of attending the Paris Olympics in 2024.

"Having been in Paris for the Olympics 2024, I had an experience of how world class games are planned. Aspects like proper usage of the infrastructure of the city as well as integrating the culture and legacy of the city into sport are good learnings for us. While these events last for a few days they become a part of public memory and relevance year-round."

His observations highlighted one of the defining strengths of the Paris Olympics: the seamless integration of sport with the city's cultural identity.

Rather than constructing isolated venues, Paris successfully incorporated existing landmarks and public spaces into the Games, creating a unique experience for athletes, spectators and residents alike.

The delegation also visited Paris City Hall and Stade de France and INSEP, France's renowned national institute of sport, and attended the Sports Definition conference. Each interaction contributed to a broader understanding of how France combines government policy, private investment and sporting expertise to create a sustainable sports ecosystem. One of the most significant outcomes of the visit will be the preparation of a white paper titled "French Olympic Legacy: Key Learnings for India's Journey Ahead".

The report will be shared with government agencies and industry stakeholders, serving as a knowledge resource to guide India's future sports planning.

https://www.indiasportshub.com/articles/can-india-s-sports-economy-really-reach-500-billion-the-numbers-suggest-a-longer-road-ahead

The collaboration between the FICCI Sports Committee and Business France is also expected to continue beyond this visit. A French delegation is scheduled to visit India in November 2026 during FICCI TURF, the committee's flagship annual event, further strengthening bilateral cooperation in sports business and governance.

As India moves closer to its ambition of hosting major international sporting events, the lessons learned in France could play an important role in shaping the country's approach to infrastructure, athlete development, fan engagement and long-term sporting legacy.