Sporting events stand out as a major pillar of France's events landscape. In 2024, 41 million spectators attended sporting events, driven notably by the 12.1 million tickets sold for Paris 2024 (+16% over 5 years, excluding major events).

The running market is estimated at €1.2 billion in 2024. It encompasses 15,000 outdoor sporting events per year, including 11,334 road races (2.95 million finishers) and nearly 5 million trail participants (1 million finishers, +182% since 2019). The sport is becoming younger and more female: 40% of finishers are under 35 (+10 points vs 2019), 35% are women (up from 30% in 2019). Reflecting its popularity, 45% of runners struggled to secure a race bib in 2024.

A standout example: the Monteynard Trail des Passerelles drew 5,659 entrants in 2024, with 39% women (vs 20% for the UTMB), 460 volunteers, and €1.25 million in economic impact for the southern Isère region.

91% of indoor sporting event spectators report a positive experience. The 24 Hours of Le Mans drew 329,000 spectators in 2024, generating €162.1 million in economic impact and hosting over 400 corporate events on its circuit each year. The motorsports sector generates €2.9 billion in revenue. Another example: the Bordeaux International Jumping event (FEI World Cup) drew over 79,000 spectators in 2025, with 600 riders and 230 exhibitors.

23% of internet users aged 15+ consume or participate in esports, a market worth €141 million in revenue. The 2024 Red Bull League of Its Own, held at the Accor Arena, drew an average of 454,000 cumulative spectators and 4.4 million hours watched — audiences up sharply from the previous edition.

Article written with the assistance of AI. Source: 2025 Event Data Book, UNIMEV