OC Sport

What OC Sport does

OC Sport is a privately held sports event management company headquartered in Lutry (Lausanne area), Switzerland, with regional hubs in Lorient and Nantes, France, and operating as a consolidated subsidiary of French media group Groupe Télégramme. Founded in 1998 by Ellen MacArthur and Mark Turner as Offshore Challenges, the modern OC Sport entity was assembled through a series of mergers (OC ThirdPole 2010, OC Sport 2012) and the 2021 merger with Pen Duick, which created OC Sport Pen Duick and assembled the world's largest portfolio of professional sailing events.

The company operates two integrated business verticals. The sailing vertical — managed through OC Sport Pen Duick — owns and operates flagship ocean races including the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe, La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec, Transat Paprec, ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE-Brest, Transat CIC, and Tour de Belle-Île, alongside sailing campaign management services delivered from Le Hub by OC Sport in Lorient. The outdoor vertical creates and manages mass-participation running, cycling, and triathlon events including the Generali Genève Marathon (Switzerland's largest at 27,578 participants in 2026), Abalone Marathon de Nantes, Haute Route cycling series, Balexert 20km de Genève, and Tour de Belle-Île.

OC Sport earns revenue across four streams: professional services fees for event management, advertising/sponsorship and hospitality sales at owned events, licensing royalties on branded event franchises (notably UTMB International and Haute Route), and managed services for sailing campaigns. The company sells directly to corporate sponsors through B2B enterprise sales, to consumers via direct event registration, and to international organizers via licensing arrangements. It does not operate a software or AI platform; its proprietary assets are event brands, event rights, sustainability methodology (Rethink Sport / Beyond Sport, for Nature), and the Le Hub campaign management facility. The group employs 80+ staff across Swiss and French offices.

Name

OC Sport

Legal name

OC SPORT

Website

https://ocsport.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

OC Sport is a private French-Swiss sports event management company that creates, owns, and operates mass-participation outdoor events (running, cycling, triathlon) and the world's largest professional sailing event portfolio, serving brands, cities, and amateur and professional athletes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Event Management Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113)

SIC

Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Event Promotion & Tournament Operations (MPAKAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Professional Tour & Circuit Operators (MPAKADAA), Championship & Cup Organizers (MPAKADAB)

Keywords

• Sports event management
• Outdoor sports events
• Professional sailing races
• Mass participation events
• Event licensing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Larmor-plage

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Event Management Services: Full-service event management including logistics, operations, marketing, communication, sponsorship, hospitality, and race direction for mass participation outdoor events and professional sailing races. Revenue generated through fees charged to event owners, cities, and institutional partners.
2. Sponsorship and Hospitality: Commercialization of sponsorship rights, hospitality packages, and brand activations at owned and managed events. Revenue from brands seeking association with high-profile sporting events and audiences.
3. Event Licensing: Licensing of owned event brands (UTMB International, Haute Route franchises, Tabarly, Pen Duick) to international organizers, brands, and territories. Also provides rights management and advisory services for sports partnerships.
4. Campaign Management / Team Management: Management of competitive sailing teams and campaigns including crew selection, training, logistics, sponsorship activation, media and communications support. Revenue through campaign management fees and sponsorship deliverables.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

OC Sport creates, organizes, and manages world-leading outdoor sports and sailing events, reaching customers through mass participation events, corporate sponsorship activation, hospitality packages, and event licensing. The company delivers four core service lines: Event Management (full-service logistics, operations, marketing, and race direction), Event Creation (development of proprietary formats such as Haute Route and Stadium Racing), Campaign Management (sailing team preparation from crew selection through media support), and Event Licensing (franchising owned event brands internationally). It operates approximately 20 events across 80+ race days annually.

Product overview

OC Sport is a sports event management company offering four interconnected service lines: Event Management (full-service organization for third-party events), Event Creation (developing and owning proprietary sports events), Campaign Management (managing sailing teams and campaigns), and Event Licensing (licensing OC Sport's owned events and brands internationally). The company operates primarily in two verticals — offshore sailing (ocean racing managed through subsidiary OC Sport Pen Duick) and outdoor sports (running, cycling, and triathlon events). Key owned events include La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec, Transat Paprec, Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe, ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE-Brest, Generali Genève Marathon, Abalone Marathon de Nantes, Haute Route cycling series, and Extreme Sailing Series. The company is a subsidiary of Groupe Télégramme, with offices in Lutry (Switzerland), Lorient (France), and Nantes (France).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Beyond Sport, for Nature: Company sustainability and responsibility manifesto committing to regenerative event management and environmental stewardship
• Le Hub by OC Sport
• Rethink Sport

Products and services

• Event Management Full-service sports event management including logistics, operations, marketing, communications, sponsorship activation, and course direction for mass-participation and professional sporting events on behalf of event owners, cities, and institutional partners.
• Event Creation Creation and ownership of innovative sports events, leveraging creativity and strategic expertise to develop new event formats (such as Haute Route and Stadium Racing) and to explore unexplored natural environments.
• Campaign Management Management of solo and crew sailing campaigns including crew selection and training, boat design oversight, logistics, financial management, sponsorship acquisition and activation, and media/communications support, delivered from Le Hub by OC Sport in Lorient.
• Event Licensing Advisory, negotiation, and rights management services for brands and rights holders seeking sports event licensing partnerships, including UTMB International and Haute Route franchise programs licensed to international organizers.
• Haute Route Cycling Series World's most prestigious multi-day cycling event series for amateur riders, launched in 2011 in the French Alps. Offered in 3-day and 7-day formats on legendary cycling routes, with international editions in Oman, Mexico, China, Norway, the Rockies, and the Dolomites.
• La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec World's premier annual solo offshore sailing race, contested on monotype Figaro Bénéteau 3 yachts. Stretches 1,500–2,000 nautical miles annually, attracting top solo sailors alongside aspiring amateurs. Organized by OC Sport Pen Duick on behalf of Groupe Figaro.
• Transat Paprec Solo and duo transatlantic race held biennially on identical Figaro Bénéteau 3 boats for even competition. Since 2021, the first transatlantic race contested 100% in mixed-gender double crews, departing Concarneau for Saint-Barthélemy. Title sponsored by Paprec.
• Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe Classic quadrennial solo transatlantic race from Saint-Malo, Brittany, to Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe. Attracts 100+ skippers across five categories and over 2 million visitors to race villages.
• Transat CIC Quadrennial solo transatlantic race, first-ever solo offshore race created in 1960 by British pioneers including Sir Francis Chichester. A 3,400-mile crossing from southwest England to New York through the North Atlantic.
• ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE - Brest First solo round-the-world race reserved for Ultim 32/23 trimarans. Organized by OC Sport Pen Duick, with departures from Brest, France. Title sponsored by ARKEA.
• Tour de Belle-Île Annual sailing regatta with a 42-nautical-mile course around Belle-Île-en-Mer. Largest sailing race in France by number of boats, featuring a mix of amateurs and professionals. Acquired by OC Sport Pen Duick in 2023.
• Extreme Sailing Series Professional sailing series launched by OC Sport in 2007 as iShares Cup. Pioneer of the Stadium Racing concept that placed spectators at the center of fast-paced sailing. Developed into a global circuit with worldwide sponsors and millions of viewers.
• Generali Genève Marathon Largest marathon in Switzerland, organized by OC Sport Switzerland in Lausanne. Features marathon, half-marathon, 10km, 5km, and relay formats. Course runs from Cologny through Geneva countryside to city center. Title sponsored by Generali.
• Balexert 20km de Genève Running event launched by OC Sport offering individual, duo, and team formats. Third edition in 2019 welcomed 3,861 participants across 6 race formats.
• Run24 24-hour non-stop relay running event held in Versoix, Switzerland. Features multiple team formats (solo, duo, crew of 3-5, squad of 6-8, clique up to 11) combined with a festival atmosphere including DJ sets, silent party, and camping.
• La Tour Genève Triathlon Major triathlon event in Geneva in its 35th edition. Offers multiple formats from Half to Discovery distance, plus Junior and Youth League categories. Acquired by OC Sport in 2017.
• Triathlon d'Évian Largest triathlon in Haute-Savoie, featuring lake, legendary mountain cols, and urban stages. Offers multiple race formats including one extraordinary format.
• Abalone Marathon de Nantes Major running event in western France featuring marathon, half-marathon, 10km, and relay formats. Notable for 324-meter floating bridge crossing over the Erdre river. Organized by OC Sport since 2022.
• French Riviera Marathon Nice-Cannes Marathon along the French Riviera between Nice and Cannes, co-organized by OC Sport ThirdPole since 2012.
• 24 Heures Vélo Škoda Iconic 24-hour cycling event held annually on the legendary Bugatti circuit in Le Mans, France. Attracts over 600 teams and thousands of cycling enthusiasts. Reacquired by OC Sport in 2025.
• Marathon International de la Côte d'Amour Amarris Marathon held in the Presqu'île Guérandaise (La Baule, Guérande, Le Croisic). First edition in 2024 attracted over 13,000 runners across six events. Title sponsored by Amarris.
• Run Mate by Core Lean Team running event around Lake Geneva, offering unique relay format with staggered starts. Held annually in September.

Quantifiable outcome

• Carbon footprint reduction: Sailing events — 50% reduction by 2034 vs 2022 baseline; Outdoor events — 33% reduction by 2030 vs 2022 baseline
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• R&D CyclingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 March 2026OC Sport and R&D Cycling signed a strategic partnership to strengthen their presence across the Swiss Romandy territory and develop synergies between their major running, triathlon, and cycling events. R&D Cycling, based in Sion, is behind iconic events like the Tour des Stations and Valais Triathlon Festival. The partnership combines nearly 150,000 cumulative participants and over 80 collaborators, targeting operational, logistical, and communication synergies.
• Carbone 4coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOC Sport works with Carbone 4, a leading carbon consulting firm, to calculate the carbon footprint of each event following a methodology developed specifically for sporting events (scope 1, 2, and 3) since 2021.
• AgoterracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOC Sport partners with Agoterra for its 100% local carbon contribution plan. The collaboration supports regenerative agricultural initiatives near event sites that sequester significant CO2 while supporting local employment and biodiversity.
• The Human Safety Net SwitzerlandcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOC Sport partners with The Human Safety Net Switzerland at the Generali Genève Marathon and other events, raising funds to support parents in building a better future for their children. The partnership generated 18,953 CHF at the 2026 Geneva Marathon edition.
• Association de sauvegarde du LémanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Léman Preservation Association, partnered at triathlon events in Évian, works to keep the waters of Lake Geneva and Léman basin as pure as possible.
• UTMB Mont BlanccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOC Sport co-created UTMB International with UTMB Mont Blanc to support the creation of major trail running events worldwide, adhering to the high quality standards established by UTMB Mont Blanc.
• World Health Organization (WHO)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerOC Sport was designated to provide 360-degree event management services for the WHO's Walk the Talk: Health for All Challenge, including course planning, logistics, crowd management, volunteer recruitment, event promotion, and VIP coordination.
• Groupe FigarocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOC Sport Pen Duick has organized La Solitaire du Figaro on behalf of Groupe Figaro since 2011. The partnership was renewed until 2036, making it a 15-year relationship.
• Brittany FerriesmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrittany Ferries is an official partner of the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe 2026 for the fourth consecutive edition, providing maritime logistics and brand association with the race.
• ARKEAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerARKEA is the title sponsor of the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE - Brest, the first solo around-the-world race for Ultim trimarans, organized by OC Sport Pen Duick.
• PapreccoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPaprec is the title sponsor of La Transat Paprec, the only transatlantic race contested in equal boats and in mixed doubles. OC Sport Pen Duick has organized this race since 2021 (formerly Transat AG2R LA MONDIALE).
• Dongfeng Race TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOC Sport created and managed the Dongfeng Race Team, which made history as the first Chinese team to win the Volvo Ocean Race (2017-18). OC Sport handled crew selection, training, and all campaign management.
• SNCF (French National Railway)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerOC Sport partners with SNCF to reduce carbon emissions from sailing events, including for the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec, providing train options for participants and crew transport.
• Generali (Geneva Marathon sponsor)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerGenerali is the title sponsor of the Generali Genève Marathon, Switzerland's largest marathon event managed by OC Sport.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO): French-based organiser of major mass-participation and elite sporting events including the Tour de France, Paris Marathon, Vendée Globe, and Dakar Rally. Operates an owned-portfolio model across running, cycling, and sailing that closely mirrors OC Sport's strategy across the same sports and geographic base.
• IRONMAN Group: Global mass-participation triathlon, running, and cycling event operator with brands including IRONMAN, Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series, and UTMB World Series. Most directly comparable international peer given its triathlon/marathon portfolio and sponsorship-driven business model.
• The Ocean Race: Organiser of the premier fully crewed around-the-world sailing race and its feeder events. Direct sailing peer to OC Sport Pen Duick's offshore portfolio (Route du Rhum, ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE-Brest), competing for the same sponsors, skippers, and host cities.
• SailGP: Global professional sailing league operating a multi-city annual circuit with F50 catamarans. Competes with OC Sport's Extreme Sailing Series heritage for sponsorship dollars, broadcast rights, and venue partnerships in the professional sailing segment.
• UTMB Group (Mont-Blanc): Originator of the UTMB Mont-Blanc trail running event and operator of the global UTMB World Series. Both a strategic partner (via UTMB International) and a direct peer in trail running event licensing, brand standards, and international franchise expansion.
• RCS Sport: Italian organiser of major endurance and mass-participation events including the Giro d'Italia, Milan-San Remo, and Milan Marathon. Closely comparable peer across owned cycling tours and mass-participation marathons, with a similar European geographic footprint.
• World Marathon Majors: Alliance of the world's six largest city marathons (Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York). Competes for elite marathon sponsors, media rights, and host-city economics relevant to OC Sport's Generali Genève Marathon and Abalone Marathon de Nantes.

Others

• World Sailing: International governing body for the sport of sailing. Not a commercial peer but a key counterpart whose regulations, class rules, and event calendars shape OC Sport Pen Duick's offshore racing portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• IMG (Endeavor): Global sports and entertainment agency owning events, media rights, and sponsorship sales across multiple sports. A broader incumbent operating at scale across event licensing and athlete management that competes for the same global brand sponsorship budgets OC Sport targets.
• Octagon: International sports marketing agency within Interpublic Group, with rights and event expertise across endurance, cycling, and mass participation. Comparable to OC Sport's sponsorship and event-management business model but at significantly larger scale and broader portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@OCSportBeyondSportForNature
• Facebookfacebook.com/ocsport
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oc-sport
• Instagraminstagram.com/ocsport_
• Xx.com/oc_sport

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about OC Sport