On November 26, 2024, the French Federation for Company Sport (FFSE) and the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) organized a European conference in Paris as part of the Work, Move & Perf (WMP) project. In addition, the event brought together around 50 participants, including sports professionals, business leaders, practitioners, and representatives from European organizations. The primary goal was to collectively explore the links between workplace physical activity, productivity, and organizational performance.

Opening Remarks: The Stakes of Workplace Physical Activity

Presenting the “Work, Move & Perf” Project First Results

Charlotte Frueh-Richardot, the Project Coordinator, presented the WMP project’s objectives:

1. Studying the links between physical activity and productivity at the European scale,
2. Evaluating the profitability of workplace sports programs,
3. Providing actionable data for public and private decision-makers.

Salvador Angosto Sanchez (PhD), shared scientific insights from quantitative and qualitative studies conducted by the universities of Murcia and Copenhagen, revealing emerging trends.

A European online survey was also launched to gather data on well-being, job satisfaction, and physical activity habits.

Panel Discussion: The Olympics as a Catalyst for Company Transformation

A panel of four experts from the sports and business sectors discussed the legacy of the Paris 2024 as a driver for integrating sports into company strategies.

Thierry Millet, Head of the “GOJO-P 92” business club at the Hauts-de-Seine Chamber of Commerce, introduced a project inspired by the legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympics. This network, connecting over 850 business leaders in the region, is built on sports values. It offers diverse activities open to all, such as basketball tournaments, 24-hour charity challenges, and relaxation workshops. Moreover, these events promote networking and collaboration, positioning sports as a powerful tool for regional and collective engagement.

Marie-Cécile Tardieu, Deputy CEO of Business France, emphasized the strategic role of sports in boosting France’s international competitiveness. Initially leveraged for major sporting events, sports

are now embedded in the agency’s internal strategies. She stressed the importance of inclusive and accessible initiatives tied to key social issues like disability, diversity, and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, she highlighted the need to address workforce challenges, particularly work-life balance. The proposition is to create opportunities for employees to engage in family-friendly physical activities.

Isabelle Jouin is the General Delegate of Planet’RSE and President of the French Hockey Federation. Morevoer, she highlighted the synergy between sports, CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), and non-financial reporting. She explained how sports strengthen organizational identity and support local sports clubs. However, she noted a significant challenge: small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face difficulties accessing sports infrastructure and pooling the necessary resources.

Fabien Gilot, Olympic medalist and representative of the Movement of French Enterprises (MEDEF), outlined sports-driven initiatives developed since Paris’s bid for the 2024 Olympics. Through its Sports Committee, MEDEF has created tools to help businesses integrate sports into their strategies. One standout example is the inter-company challenge “Faites vos jeux en entreprise” (Game On at Work), launched in 2023 in partnership with the French Ministry of Sports, SPART, and the French Federation for Company Sport.

Success Stories: Company Initiatives Driving Change

The successful implementation of workplace sports projects often involves various stakeholders. The overview is including management, HR, CSR departments, employee associations, or works councils.

Three company associations shared their experiences during the conference:

• Airbus Staff Association, represented by Christian Morin, Executive Vice President.
• BPCE Sports Group, represented by Philippe Dubois, President, and Valérie Perrière, National Secretary.
• Sports Association of the Bank of France, represented by Virginie Fajon Ouadraogo, who highlighted a recent intersite sports event.

Nathalie Cara, Workplace Environment Manager at Manutan, shared her company’s strategy of embedding sports initiatives into HR policies, demonstrating their impact on workplace culture, talent retention, and team engagement.

Despite the observed benefits, companies stressed the need for better evaluation of their initiatives’ impact, which is often hindered by a lack of resources, time, or interdepartmental coordination.

Economic Impact Calculator for Company Sports

In conclusion, Steven Naraynen of MEDEF introduced an Excel-based ROI calculator for sport policies at workplaces. This tool (in French) allows companies to measure the economic and human benefits of physical activity programs on their teams.

Physical Activity at Work: A Win-Win Strategy

The conference showcased the tangible benefits of physical activity in workplace productivity and well-being. It also paved the way for broader recognition and support of such initiatives among public and private decision-makers.

Take the Survey: Physical Activity at Work as a Performance Driver

Take the Survey: Physical Activity at Work as a Performance Driver

Be part of our quantitative study on the connections between physical activity, well-being, and workplace performance by completing our 10-minute online survey.

Conference replay

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The conference will focus on ‘the effects of physical activity at work on the human, economic and organisational performance of companies’.

PROGRAMME (provisional): the effects of physical activity at work on the human, economic and organisational performance of companies

Remark: Live translation will be available. The conference will be recorded.

8.30-9.00: registration & welcome coffee

9.00-9.30: Conference opening speech

• Skander Karaa, Managing Director – French National Olympic Committee (CNOSF)
• Welcome Adress – Luciano Di Fonzo, Deputy Head of Unit, Erasmus Mundus and Sport – EACEA
• Welcome Adress – Didier Besseyre, President – French, European, World Federation for Company Sport President (FFSE, EFCS & WFCS)

9.20-9.30: Introduction of the WMP project and topic at European level – Charlotte Frueh-Richardot, WMP project coordinator

9.30-9.45: Work, Move & Perf studies – First results

Research and needs analysis – Salvador Angosto Sanchez – University of Copenhagen and Murcia

Q&A (5min)

9.45-10.45: ROUNDTABLE – Physical activity in the workplace: Using the legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to boost productivity and business performance, moderated by Victor Bertin from, Economic transformation manager – NOC of France

• Isabelle Jouin, General Delegate – Planet’RSE, President – French Field Hockey Federation
• Marie-Cécile Tardieu, Deputy Chief Executive Officier – Business France
• Fabien Gilot, Co-Chairman, Sport Committee – Mouvement des entreprises de France (MEDEF) (tbc)
• Thierry Millet, Treasurer – Chamber of commerce Hauts-de-Seine, Business club referent “Club GOJO-P”

10.45-10.50: Q&A

10.50-11.10: Coffee Break

11.10-11.40: PITCHES- Best practices examples & testimonies

• Airbus – Christian Morin, Executive Vice-President AISA (Airbus Staff Associations)
• Groupe BPCE Sports – Philippe Dubois, President and Valérie Perrière, National Secretary
• Manutan – Nathalie Cara, Responsable de l’Environnement de Travail

11.40-11.45: Q&A

11.40-11.50:
Mouvement des entreprises de France (MEDEF) – Steven Naraynen, Sport, Culture & Entrepreneurship Officer

11.50-12.00: Conclusion:  Towards a “Company Sport Supporters Network”

TO REGISTER, CLICK HERE (for free).

Background information – WMP project

The WMP project, coordinated by the French Federation for Company Sport (FFSE), is co-funded by the European Commission as part of the Erasmus+ Sport programme.

It responds to a need expressed by companies to be able to establish a link between the practice of physical activity and its effect on the performance of their employees and their organisation in general. This is the first European-level scientific study on this subject. The data collected will be made available free of charge in the form of a toolbox on an online platform by the end of 2025. This should give impetus to and formalise a ‘European network of corporate sport supporters’ and, ultimately, a ‘European corporate sport observatory’.

The FFSE is implementing the project with 8 partner organisations : the University of Copenhagen (Denmark), the University of Murcia (Spain), the European Federation for Company Sport (France), the Association for Sport in the Free Time (Bulgaria), the French National Olympic Committee (France), the Sports Association of Bank of France (France), the Authority For Integrity In Maltese Sport (Malta) and the European Network for Innovation and Knowledge (Netherlands).

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On 13 June 2024, online focus groups were conducted by University of Murcia researchers, Salva ANGOSTO and Guillermo FELIPE LOPEZ SANCHEZ.

The aim was to carry out a preliminary needs analysis on the integration of physical activity in the workplace.  The aim was to sound out the views of both managers/decision-makers and employees. The discussion took place simultaneously in two separate online rooms, one for each profile.

The topics covered were: opinions on sport in the workplace (interest, practice, availability, accessibility, expected effects, etc.), well-being at work (absenteeism, sense of belonging, sociability, workload, etc.) and the link with performance (productivity indicator).

What emerged overall from the findings of the manager profiles group is that most companies are looking to facilitate the integration of physical activity into their employees’ work routines.
Financial resources can vary, as can the associated strategies: flexible working hours, extending the opening of facilities for longer hours, challenges or gamification, shower areas, support for participation in national or international events, human support such as coaches, psychologists or other specialists.
Finally, the main obstacles or challenges indicated by managers are motivating and attracting employees to take part in physical activities or events promoted by the company.
Although managers are convinced of the positive role of physical activity, none of them has yet evaluated the gains in terms of productivity.

What emerged overall from the findings of the employee profiles group is that those who already engage in physical activity as part of their job experience positive effects on their well-being and a reduction in stress and productivity at work. People in sedentary jobs in particular are particularly stafisfied. According to them, the main limitations or restrictions to implementing new initiatives are: having a very small office, lack of will from the manager who doesn’t see the point, or lack of budget.  Finally, the main challenge is to make people aware of the opportunities that physical activity can bring to their lives and work.

In conclusion, by cross-referencing these feedbacks, the need to establish a concrete link between activity programmes at work and productivity is confirmed.

On the one hand, non-initiated employees need to be made aware of what they have to gain in their daily lives and in their organisation.

On the other, we need to make decision-makers aware of the concrete contribution in terms of management and the return on investment for team and company performance.

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