Organization mission & impact

To give young people in priority neighborhoods the confidence, motivation, and resources they need to dream and succeed.

Home » Our Mission

Key Dates

Since 1998, serving young beneficiaries of the “organization.”

1998

Creation of Sport dans la ville

Sport dans la Ville was founded in Lyon by Philippe Oddou and Nicolas Eschermann.

1999

Opening of the first 3 sports centers

Basketball courts in Vaulx-en-Velin, Lyon, and Givors (69).

2007

Creation of the Campus Sport dans la Ville

In the heart of Lyon's 9th arrondissement (Vaise).

2008

Launch of Two New Programs

Job dans la Ville and Entrepreneurs dans la Ville.

2009

Creating a New Program

L dans la Ville.

2012

New location.

Launch in Île-de-France

2017

New location.

Launch in the Hauts-de-France region.

2018

New Development Plan.

Launch of “Pari 2024.”

2019

New location.

Launch in the South region and expansion of the " Entrepreneurs dans la Ville" program.

2021

New Commitment

as part of the Impact 2024 program.

2022

Establishment of the Vacation and Training Center

in Drôme Provençale.

2023

Launch of a New Plan

"Ambition 2032."

2024

Olympic Year!

With the Heritage initiatives and FESTIVAL 24.

VALUES SPORT DANS LA VILLE

Sport dans la Ville, a commitment to serving everyone.

Team and youth on the field

Working with Confidence

We foster an environment based on trust, transparency, and respect, promoting strong relationships among teams, young people, families, and partners.

Entrepreneurship in Everyday Life

We encourage initiative and innovation every day to enable everyone to pursue their projects and realize their potential.

Push Yourself and Achieve Results

We encourage everyone to push themselves to achieve concrete goals, while valuing effort, perseverance, and success.

Playing and Growing Together

Community is at the heart of what we do: we learn, share, and grow together through sports and shared experiences.

Committing to Community Engagement

With strong roots in our local communities, we work closely with those in need to create a lasting impact on young people, families, and partners.

A Long-Term Support Program

To support young people throughout their journey, from sports to employment.

  • Playing sports

    Sports Programs

  • Women's Success

    Program L dans la Ville

  • Making Progress in School

    Réussite dans la Ville Program

  • Finding your way

    Job dans la ville

  • Starting Your Own Business

    Entrepreneurs dans la ville

  • Participate in trips

    Summer and Winter Camps

  • Working Abroad

    Exchanges and Experiences Abroad

Field with a coach and young people

An Approach to Social Innovation and Community Engagement

To make a strong, immediate impact on young people, Sport dans la Ville reaches out to them by setting up and offering its activities right in the heart of their neighborhoods.

“Reaching out to them” is an essential approach for establishing contact and building rapport, with the goal of eventually fostering a genuine relationship of trust with each individual.

QPV site in Ile-Saint-Denis

A Commitment to Serving Priority Neighborhoods Under the Urban Policy (QPV)

Priority Neighborhoods (QPVs), as defined by the Program Law for Cities and Urban Cohesion of February 21, 2014, are specific areas targeted by priority initiatives under urban policy, tailored to the local needs of residents facing difficulties. Currently, approximately 1,300 priority neighborhoods under the urban policy in metropolitan France benefit from favorable tax measures and other forms of support, as noted by Bpifrance.

Portrait: Youth Employment Integration
Trio of Young Women L dans la Ville
Youth Worker and Youth in the Field
Young people on a soccer field
Support Entrepreneurs dans la Ville
Paris Flandre Field
Festival 24 Opening Ceremony in Lyon

Happy Memories

Major international sporting events offer unique opportunities to bring people together around the values of sport.

Sport dans la Ville, as France’s leading sports-based social integration organization , has been committed since 2016 to providing these memorable moments of excitement and togetherness to young people from priority neighborhoods, whom it supports on a daily basis

Street Soccer Festival
  • In 2016, during the European Championship in France, the StreetFootballWorld2016 Festival was held, co-organized with the UEFA Foundation for Children. The event brought together 500 girls and boys from around the world—all from underserved neighborhoods and selected for their desire to help change the world through soccer—at the Lyon campus of theorganization.
  • In 2019, during the Women’s World Cup held in France, StreetFootballWorld and Sport dans la Ville once again worked hand in hand to organize Festival 19. The event brought together 50 international delegations (300 young people) from priority neighborhoods.
Learn more
Festival 24
  • In 2024, as part of the Paris 2024 Games and the Legacy Project for this international sporting event, Sport dans la Ville organized Festival 24, bringing together no fewer than 500 young people from around the world in Lyon and Paris to celebrate the values of sports. The event featured introductory sports and educational activities, cultural outings, and a conference on inclusion through sports in collaboration with the United by Sports Forum.
Learn more
Festival 26

In 2026, as part of the 2026 World Cup, a Fair Play Soccer Festival was co-organized by Sport dans la Ville and Boston Scores. Forty delegations gathered in Boston for this international solidarity festival.

Learn more

Download our latest activity report

Download our impact studies

news

View all news

See the most frequently asked questions

Where is the “organization ” located?

Theorganization has a presence in five regions of France: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Hauts-de-France, Île-de-France, Pays de la Loire, and the South.

Who are the beneficiaries of the “organization ”?

Sport dans la Ville ’s beneficiaries are young people, ages 6 to 30, from priority neighborhoods in France.

How did the “organization Sport dans la Ville ” come about?

Sport dans la Ville was founded by Nicolas Eschermann and Philippe Oddou in 1998. While studying at emlyon business school, the founders began exploring the idea of launching a social initiative aimed at at-risk youth.

Ready to take the plunge?

Sport dans la Ville, a commitment to serving everyone.

MAKE A DONATION