Management of public sports infrastructures

Public sports infrastructures constitute a strategic lever for the promotion of physical activities, community well-being and social cohesion. Their development represents considerable investments for States, which require rigorous management to ensure their sustainability and return on investment. However, many public structures, particularly within local authorities, are struggling to meet the challenges linked to the management, maintenance and development of this equipment. Underuse, lack of planning, lack of preventive maintenance and insufficient staff skills are among the most recurring obstacles, limiting the effectiveness of local sports policies and harming the valorization of public investments.

Faced with these challenges, and the growing requirements of confederations and international federations in terms of infrastructure approval, the training of public sports infrastructure managers is emerging as a priority need expressed by the member states and governments of the Conference of Ministers of Youth and Sports of the Francophonie (Confejes). It is in this context that Senghor University and Confejes jointly initiated this certification training project, contextualized and adapted to managers of public sports structures in Africa, aiming to strengthen their skills from a perspective of optimal, sustainable and inclusive management.

Anchored in a skills-based approach, this hybrid training favors learning through practice in addition to theoretical contributions, thus meeting the dual requirement of educational effectiveness and adaptability to local realities. It will contribute to the strengthening of national sports policies and the professionalization of players in the French-speaking world.