Lille Metropole will formally integrate the SHARE 2.0 initiative and take part in communities of practice associated to it, with a view of ever strengthening and reinforcing the metropolitan area’s commitment to high-level sporting activities.   

Where does SHARE 2.0 come from ?

In 2018, the European Commission launched the SHARE - SportHub: Alliance for Regional Development in Europe initiative to raise public awareness of the importance of sport and physical activity for regional and local development. The initiative brings together sports organisations, federations, experts and public authorities. Over the period 2018-2023, the SHARE initiative enabled in-depth interaction and knowledge sharing between 142 stakeholders, as well as raising awareness of funding opportunities for sport-related activities, notably via the Eramus+Sport scheme. The SHARE 2.0 initiative was launched to structure and strengthen collaboration and the exchange of knowledge on EU funding, health, innovation and sustainability in the field of sport. The scheme already brings together over 200 stakeholders and partners, which Lille Metropole will join. 

Lille Metropole’s history of hosting big events

Lille Metropole’s participation in SHARE 2.0 is a reflection of the metropolitan area’s continued commitment to taking part in high-level sporting initiatives and events. Over the last ten years, Lille Metropole has positioned itself as a benchmark and a frontrunner in hosting international sporting events. Back in 2019, Lille Metropole was awarded the "Land of Games" (Terre de jeux) label by the Organising Committee of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, in recognition of our commitment to making sporting activities a part of everyday life in the metropolitan area. This year, Lille Metropole was host to a total of 52 handball and basketball events that took place in the context of the 2024 Paris Olympics, a reflection of our commitment to hosting high-level sporting events. In 2014, Lille Metropole hosted the Davis Cup. In 2015, Lille Metropole hosted the FIBA Eurobasket, before becoming a host city for the men’s football Euros of 2016, as well as the 2017 IHF World Handball Championship. More recently, in 2023, Lille Metropole hosted 5 Rugby World Cup matches.

Grand Départ Tour de France - Lille Metropole 2025

The year 2025 will mark another large-scale event in Lille Metropole’s territory and sporting achievements : on the 5th of July 2025, for the 112th edition of the Tour de France, the event will launch from Lille for the third time in its history. In 1960, the Grand Départ of the Tour de France took place in Lille for the first time, followed by a Grand Départ in 1969 from Roubaix, one of Lille Metropole’s municipalities. In 1994, the Grand Départ took place in Lille once more, and just over thirty years later, it returns to our metropolitan area. You can check out the press release on Lille Metropole’s website here, and the Tour de France’s press release here.