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Olympique de Marseille President pablo Longoria Champions Community Engagement with New Multisport Field
marseille, France – In a move underscoring Olympique de Marseille’s commitment to its community beyond the soccer field, club president pablo Longoria attended the inauguration of a third multisport field in the city on Monday, April 7, 2025. This initiative, spearheaded by the OM 13th Man Foundation, aims to revitalize underutilized spaces into accessible sporting venues for all Marseillais.
The new field,located at the Friche La Belle de mai,joins existing facilities in the Major and Endoume neighborhoods,all bearing the club’s iconic colors. This project, dubbed “Capital of Football,” reflects a broader strategy to promote social inclusion and provide recreational opportunities for young people in Marseille, especially as the club celebrates its 125th anniversary.
Longoria emphasized the importance of these community projects, stating, “This is something that is within our 13th man policy. It is the life of the OM Foundation with social actions that we do around the club. It is one of the first projects that I have led as president and to which I give a lot of importance.”
Rebuilding Communities Through Sport
The “Capital of Football” initiative directly tackles the challenge of decreasing youth participation in outdoor sports, notably in urban environments. By creating attractive and functional spaces, OM hopes to reignite a passion for sports and provide a positive outlet for young people.
The inauguration was attended by Gérard Leclerc,CEO of Intersport,and Marc Bollet,CEO of Friche La Belle de Mai,highlighting the collaborative effort driving this project.The involvement of Intersport, a major sporting goods retailer, is particularly noteworthy, illustrating how corporate partnerships can amplify community growth initiatives.
Longoria further explained the club’s vision: “Naturally, for football players, we always say that you need a football pyramid and the football base is to be a popular sport and to be able to play it in the street and in the city…For me the most important thing,rather than football players,is to do some sport and give young people the chance to have a life with friends,with friends and all those who share this passion for the same sport.”
This aligns with broader efforts across the United
