Sunshine helps dreams, DecathlonCEO Barbara plays football with rural students to convey the warmth and power of sports

On November 3, 2023, on the sunny football field at the Decathlon headquarters in Shanghai, Barbara Martin Coppola, CEO of the group, led the global leadership team to compete with the women's football team from Tangshan Lutai Jinhengtong Dongzhuang Primary School in a tense and enthusiastic match. The sun reflected the sweat and joy melted in their hearts. This is one of the contents of the study tour activities of the Decathlon Foundation's "Nongqing Dongni" football support program in Shanghai this month, which has been highly valued by Decathlon Shanghai Headquarters. It happened that CEO Barbara and her team came to China, and the children happily had the opportunity to get close to the leadership team of the world's largest sporting goods company. In September 2018, Cao Lingnan, general manager of Tangshan Jinhengtong Automobile Materials Co., Ltd., and his sister Cao Rongshu donated more than 4 million yuan to rebuild Dongzhuang Primary School. The brand-new school buildings and equipment, first-class sports fields, and the children can go to school nearby, which is a great happiness for rural children. This is also what Jinhengtong, as a supplier, has learned from its sincere cooperation with Decathlon for many years and is inspired by the practice of social responsibility. Jinhengtong has been working in the industry for more than 20 years and has benefited from the love of 80,000 people. It is grateful to its hometown and gives back to the society.

The good deeds of the Cao sisters also touched Decathlon.In 2019, the first project of Decathlon Foundation in the north initiated by Xu Xiaoming was settled in Jinhengtong Dongzhuang Primary School. They will fund the establishment of male and female football teams in the primary school and carry out continuous physical education and community sports. With great love, Decathlon Foundation allows rural children to feel the confidence and happiness brought by sports.

The spring breeze and rain gather the power of love to give rural children the wings of their dreams. Mr. Cao regularly organizes various activities to continuously support rural education. Decathlon GroupCEO Barbara is a very influential female leader in the world. She took time out of her busy schedule to run with the children on the court, enthusiastically encouraged them, and gave each other signed footballs. Ms. Barbara fully affirmed and appreciated Mr. Cao's good deeds. She said: "Sports create infinite miracles. We hope that through such projects, children will feel that loving sports can change their destiny and let them see a wider world."

was founded inIn 2005, the Decathlon Foundation "is committed to supporting team members who are willing to participate in local society, helping groups who are willing to exercise but have difficulties to do so, so as to realize our corporate social responsibility." There are 6,000 volunteers in 52 countries. Sports have no borders, love is a universal language, sports produce infinite miracles (wonders of sports), public welfare in mind, responsibility in action, light up life with love, embrace the world with warmth.