Sports events are all about creating, organising and managing the spin-offs of a sporting experience, limited in time and space. This sporting event is a form of entertainment with spectators and participants. Participants demonstrate their sporting skills in a variety of physical and strategic challenges, much to the delight of spectators.

Events can take place indoors or outdoors, and at local, regional, national or international level. All sports are involved, but popularity and media coverage are not the same for all. Over 2 million sporting events are organised every year at all levels. The sports events market now accounts for more than 2% of France’s GDP, which represents a huge number of job opportunities.

Major sporting events include the Winter and Summer Olympics, the Paralympics, tennis tournaments (Roland Garris, Wimbledon, the Australian Open, the US Open, etc), the Paris Dakar, the Tour de France, the Super Bowl, the Football World Cup, the 6 Nations Tournament, the Champions League, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Route du Rhum, the Cricket World Cup, the Ryder Cup and many more.

The last few years have also seen the advent of a new sport: esport. Esport events are no longer held by physical sportsmen and women, but by digital sportsmen and women. E-sport events often take place online, but they can also be physical, filling stadiums as big as football finals!

To become a sports events project manager, you need a degree in business or communications with at least 3 years’ higher education (bachelor’s degree), ideally a master’s degree (5 years’ higher education).

Sports event project managers are responsible for coordinating the logistics of a sports event. They work with athletes and coaches to develop the best possible experience for their audience. They are also responsible for ensuring that all tasks are completed on time and within budget.

To develop all these skills and become a good sports events project manager, here are the studies generally carried out :

• Baccalauréat, at the end of Year 12
• followed by a Bachelor’s degree (BAC+3) specialising in communication or sport. The Bachelor’s degree can be obtained in 3 years at university, on the STAPS programme for example. The Bachelor’s degree can be obtained in a business school, accessible after the BAC, after a BAC+1 or a BAC+2. The Bachelor’s degree may be more general, with an international focus, as inthe INSEEC BBA programme, with specialisation through work experience. It can also be 100% specialised, as is the case for the Bachelors in Commercial Activities in Sport Business (in sport studies or not).
• followed by a Master’s degree (BAC+5). There are several types of training:
  • generalist with specialisation through a work placement or sandwich course. This can be via a general university diploma such as an IAE in marketing or management or a business school diploma, such as the INSEEC Grande Ecole programme. The more generalist nature of the degree means that you are not cut off from recruitment opportunities in other sectors.
  • specialising in sport, this can be via a university degree such as STAPS (for those who would not be accepted for the competitive examination to become a sports teacher) or a business school degree. INSEEC offers a course specialising in sport: Master of Science Marketing & Management du Sport, with a possible Outdoor option.

This type of position is also open to senior staff (with at least 10 years’ professional experience) who only have a baccalauréat but who have had their professional skills validated via a VAE or VAP.

There are many reasons for this:

• A sports event project manager needs to be organised, professional and have a strong work ethic.
• A sports events manager is committed to the success of his team and looks for ways to make an event a success. He’s an outstanding manager.
• The qualities of a successful project manager are that they are organised and can delegate tasks effectively.
• is capable of assessing and anticipating potential problems and rapidly implementing corrective measures during a sporting event
• excellent oral and written communicator
• must be able to work well with people in a team environment
• they must be able to work independently and meet deadlines with customers, suppliers and colleagues
• He is obviously capable of withstanding the high levels of pressure typical of this type of job.

The qualities needed for a good career in general, and in sport in particular, are: sociability, determination, organisational skills, leadership … and knowing how to seize the right opportunities when they arise!

The key qualities for success in sport:

• have a mentality of steel and willpower.
• be sociable. This quality goes hand in hand with the need to have a good network. Regularly taking part in events, exchanging cards, getting in touch with professionals, chatting… makes it easier to build your network.
• knowing how to get organised.
• be a leaderand know how to manage teams.
• seizing opportunities at the right time.

Our FAQs answer any questions you may have about sport:

• What are the best-paid jobs in sport?
• Focus on the profession of sports journalist
• What are the career options after a master’s degree in sport?