A Vibrant Competitive Sports Culture at Sciences Po

Every year, Sciences Po students have the opportunity to get involved in more than 300 student associations across all seven campuses. The Department of Student Life, together with Sciences Po Sports Association, offers over 200 activities across more than 40 different sports.

A High‑Intensity Competitive Season

Around 15 competitive teams - including soccer, volleyball, basketball, rugby, handball, badminton, ultimate frisbee, cheerleading, track and field, tennis, judo, and swimming - train on the Paris campus. Students enrolled in competitive sports train once or twice a week and take part in regional inter‑university championships held every Thursday. Finishing first in the Paris region (or in the top two, depending on the sport) qualifies teams for the national championships.

The national championships take place over two or three days and bring together the best university teams in France. It is the culmination of a full season, with each team aiming for a trophy that will mark a generation and enrich the school’s trophy cabinet, a familiar tradition for anyone used to North American varsity athletics.

One of the major highlights of the year is the Inter-Sciences Po Games (JISPO), a three‑day multi‑campus competition bringing together 2,000 students from ten political science institutes across France. Traditional sports such as soccer, basketball and rugby are featured, along with a themed selection of “mystery sports” (including darts and table tennis in 2026). Points earned across all events determine the overall winner, who takes home the Amphora, the tournament’s iconic trophy. In 2026, Sciences Po won the Amphora for the third consecutive year, and for the 18th time overall, earning the right to keep it permanently.

Another major event is the Collégiades, an internal three‑day competition bringing together 800 students from Sciences Po’s seven campuses. Similar in structure to the Inter-Sciences Po Games but with a stronger artistic dimension, the 2026 edition in Le Havre includes theater, short films, fashion shows and poetry, alongside soccer, rugby, volleyball, cheerleading, dance and basketball. It is a key moment of the year for undergraduate students who want to challenge themselves on the field and meet peers from the other campuses.

Browse through the pictures of the eight teams that took part in the 2026 French University Championships: 

Outstanding Results for the 2026 Teams

In 2026, Sciences Po’s competitive sports (and artistic) teams have already distinguished themselves in two major events.

National University Championship Results

Champions and medalists in France and the Paris region:

• The cheerdance team (The Bees) - national silver medalists,
• The women’s rugby team (The Birds) - Paris regional champions and national silver medalists,
• The women’s basketball team (BAFE) - Paris regional silver medalists and national champions (Division 2),
• The women’s handball team (APLP) - Paris regional champions and 5th nationally,
• The women’s volleyball team (Club Mickey) - Paris regional champions and 5th nationally.
   

Individual podium finishes also include:

• Kevin Assogba - 3rd place in long jump,
• Clara Mermet-Guyenet - 3rd place in judo (-48 kg),
• Pierre Shankland - 3rd place in bouldering.

Inter‑Sciences Po Games Results

Sciences Po won the Amphora for the 18th time during the 2026 edition in Lens–Liévin, themed around the circus.

First‑place finishes included:

• The badminton team (The Bats),
• The cheerdance team (The Bees),
• The women’s soccer team (The Biches),
• The women’s and men’s handball teams (APLP),
• The men’s rugby team (The Corbos),
• The table tennis team,
• The women’s volleyball team (Club Mickey).

Next up: the Collégiades, a three‑day competition between the seven undergraduate campuses (Dijon, Le Havre, Menton, Nancy, Paris, Poitiers and Reims), held from 18 to 20 May 2026 in Le Havre.