Axens takes part in the Lyon Inter-company Solidarity Race organized by the association Special Olympics France

Axens, a French industrial mid-sized company specializing in the energy transition, will take part in the Inter-company Solidarity Race organized by the association Special Olympics France, on Thursday June 5, 2025 at Parc des Berges Sud in Lyon starting at 11:30AM. Its teams are sponsored by five-time Paralympic table tennis medalist Maxime Thomas, who supports the group in implementing its disability inclusion policy. 

77 teams from 19 Lyon-based companies and 7 medical-social institutions in the region; a total of 308 employees and 54 individuals with intellectual disabilities will take part in the event.

The industry leader, committed to inclusion and disability advocacy, which opened an office in Lyon in May 2024, supports this association by regularly taking part in the Solidarity Races it organizes.
 
This sporting and solidarity-focused event is open to the press. Organizers, athletes, company employees and participants committed to the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities will be available for interviews.
 

An event that promotes inclusion and the practice of sport in the workplace

Since 2016, Axens supports Special Olympics France, a non-profit organization recognized as being of public interest, which promotes the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities through sport. Founded in 1968 and recognized by the International Olympic Committee, the movement now brings together nearly 7 million athletes in 174 countries. In France, Special Olympics organizes inclusive events every year, fostering connections between the disability community and the corporate world.
 
The Lyon Solidarity Race is part of this mission: it helps fund the association's Sport and Health programs, while raising awareness about inclusion among companies and their employees.
 
This year, 77 teams from 19 companies are taking part in the Race, including: Apicil, Arval, Axens, BASF, Mobility Way, Caisse d'Epargne AURA, Ekium, Ginger, IFP Energies Nouvelles, NXO, EODD, Siegfried, Vinci Energie France Tertiaire Centre Est Sud and Sonepar.
7 medical-social institutions from the region are also participating, bringing together 308 employees and 54 individuals with intellectual disabilities for the event. Axens employees based in Lyon are joining the race, along with their colleagues from the Salindres site.
 

Race schedule for June 5 starting at 11:30AM

📍Meet at the Parc des Berges Sud, access to the village via 8 rue Jonas Salk - Halle Tony Garnier tram stop.

• From 11:30AM: Race bib collection for companies
• 12:05PM: Welcome speech
• 12:05PM: Speech by Maxime Thomas, five-time Paralympic medalist
• 12:30PM: Staggered starts: first the specialized institutions, cheered on by all; then the race teams; and finally, the walkers
• From 12:45PM: Packed lunch collection
• 1:30PM: awards ceremony for the three best teams in each category (men's, women's, mixed), as well as the prize for the most supportive company (awarded to the company with the most teams)

Companies have the opportunity to participate in a "unified" format, by including a person with an intellectual disability in their team — an approach that takes inclusion a step further and fosters connections among all participants.
 

The Axens Group's commitment to inclusion

Present in Lyon since May 2024, Axens stands out for its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Disability and mental health are key areas of awareness within the company, supported by concrete actions carried out throughout the year. This past May, during the Solidarity Race in Rueil-Malmaison, Axens was awarded the Solidarity Company Trophy setting a record with 23 participating teams.

In Lyon, the Axens teams will be sponsored by Maxime Thomas, a five-time Paralympic table tennis medalist, who has been supporting the group since 2023 alongside Manon Genest, also a Paralympic athlete in long jump, in the implementation of its Disability policy. This commitment is reflected in concrete awareness initiatives both internally (immersive workshops, interactive exhibitions, round tables) and externally in schools (middle and primary schools) located near the company sites of Rueil and Salindres.
 

Practical information and press contacts

• Date: Thursday, June 5, 2025
• Location: Parc des Berges Sud, Lyon
• Hours: 11:30AM – 2PM
• On-site interviews possible throughout the event