FICCI Sports Delegation Draws Key Olympic Lessons from France India Eyes Stronger Global Sporting Future Focus on Olympic legacy, sustainable sports infrastructure, fan engagement and India-France sports business collaboration during Paris and Marseille visit India Takes Another Step Towards Becoming a Global Sporting Power

 

FICCI Sports Delegation Draws Key Olympic Lessons from France

India Eyes Stronger Global Sporting Future

Focus on Olympic legacy, sustainable sports infrastructure, fan engagement and India-France sports business collaboration during Paris and Marseille visit

India Takes Another Step Towards Becoming a Global Sporting Power

 

In a significant move towards strengthening India's sporting ecosystem, a 20-member delegation of the FICCI Sports Committee, in collaboration with Business France, completed an extensive study visit to Paris and Marseille. The delegation explored best practices in Olympic legacy, sustainable sports infrastructure, sports business, governance, fan engagement and talent development, with the objective of applying these learnings to India's long-term sporting ambitions.

 

Learning Sustainable Stadium Management

The delegation visited the historic Marseille Velodrome Stadium, established in 1937, to understand how world-class sports infrastructure can remain financially sustainable. Members studied how the venue hosts football matches during the season while transforming into a hub for concerts, cultural programmes and major events throughout the year. The visit also highlighted innovative fan engagement strategies that convert match days into full-day entertainment experiences supported by digital interaction.

 

Studying the Olympic Legacy

The delegation toured the Nautical Stadium, which hosted the sailing competitions during the Paris Olympics 2024, and the renowned Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille swimming centre. French experts shared valuable insights on effectively repurposing Olympic venues for commercial sustainability and community use after the Games. The delegation was also welcomed by the Consul General of India in Marseille, who facilitated interactions with businesses associated with the upcoming 2030 Winter Olympic Games.

 

Strengthening India-France Sports Collaboration

At Riges 2026, an international conference on major sporting events, Ms Cynthia Regulski, Head of Key Accounts and Sector Partners at Business France, welcomed the Indian delegation and expressed her commitment to sharing France's Olympic legacy with other nations. A special session on opportunities for India was chaired by Mr Sanjay Adesara, Co-Chair of the FICCI Sports Committee and Chief Business Officer of Adani Sportsline. Mr Siddharth Raman, CEO of Sportz Interactive, also shared India's sporting vision with the global audience.

 

Vision for India's Olympic Future

Sanjay Adesara said, "India aims to become a sporting powerhouse. Hosting international sporting events is central to our Olympic ambitions, and we look forward to building long-term partnerships with France across multiple areas of expertise."

 

Siddharth Raman added, "The Paris Olympics demonstrated how a city's culture and heritage can be seamlessly integrated with world-class sporting events. These experiences remain in public memory long after the competitions conclude, and India can draw valuable lessons from this model."

 

White Paper to Guide India's Sporting Journey

The delegation also visited Paris City Hall, Stade de France, INSEP, and attended the Sports Definition Conference. Based on the learnings from the visit, the FICCI Sports Committee will prepare a white paper titled 'French Olympic Legacy: Key Learnings for India's Journey Ahead', which will be shared with the Government and industry stakeholders. The committee also plans to welcome a French delegation to India during FICCI TURF in November 2026, further strengthening sports collaboration between the two countries.