ASICS and City of Paris Sign a Partnership to Improve Mental Health

The City of Paris and ASICS have signed a two-year partnership to improve the mental health of Parisians through sport. The 'Paris, Bouge ton Esprit' initiative aims to make the practice of sport more accessible and inclusive to improve the physical and mental health of Parisians.

An independent study shows that 88% of Parisians believe in the positive impact of physical exercise on their mental health. Although Paris has an active population, with an average of 280 minutes devoted to physical activity per week, 48% of Parisians want to practice more sport and 61% of Parisian people say they are attentive to their mental health. Numerous scientific studies reinforce the direct link between physical activity and mental wellbeing. “If you’re not feeling good in your body you’re not feeling good in your mind and vice versa. Physical activity improves our quality of life,” explains Professor Martine Duclos, head of the department at Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital and head of the medical observatory of physical activity and sedentary lifestyle.

On World Mental Health Day, ASICS and the City of Paris announced their partnership as part of a two-year partnership called 'Paris, Bouge Ton Esprit.' The aim of the initiative is to encourage and facilitate access to physical activity in order to improve the mental wellbeing of Parisians. A series of free initiatives and events will be set up to encourage physical activity, with a specific focus on those that research shows are the least active groups: the elderly, young people and women. 

"ASICS was founded in 1949 on the belief that sport and exercise are good for the body and the mind," said Eddy Ferhi, marketing director ASICS France. “ASICS is an acronym for the Latin 'Anima Sana in Corpore Sano' or 'a Sound Mind in a Sound Body'. We believe that our purpose is more relevant today than ever before, and we want to support more people to be physically active to improve their mental wellbeing. ASICS is proud to partner with the City of Paris and very grateful for its trust."

The 'Paris, Bouge ton Esprit' partnership 

Awareness-raising initiatives to promote the fact that physical activity is a very simple and accessible way to feel better about yourself. Ambassadors will spread the message as widely as possible. 

Community events to make sport and exercise more accessible and get more people moving. "We will knock on their door, as close as possible to their homes, by setting up accessible, inclusive and obviously free sessions," says Eddy Ferhi. We won't look at the level, people will come as they are to have a good time. We want them to discover, or rediscover, sensations through physical activity and to be able to. We want them to regain their confidence and then integrate physical activity into their daily lives, for example by walking to relieve stress and enjoy the benefits on the mind. We want to leave a lasting mark."

Renovation of infrastructure and development of meeting places for the practice of sport, including the Pershing Stadium intended to become a hub for people with disabilities. 

Community events will take place from November 2023 offering Parisians access to sports and activity sessions. All sessions will be supervised by professional coaches who will be able to give expert advice.