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Social diversity has emerged as a recurring theme in public debate, and sport is no exception to the sustained use of this term. However, while the use of the notion of social diversity is common in the context of sporting events, we might rightfully question its implementation and effects. This article analyzes several recurring sporting events held between 2013 and 2016 in Paris, through the lens of their relationship with the concept of social diversity. The corpus of qualitative data is based on interviews, documentary analysis, and on-site observations. Whether through the concept or through argumentative rhetoric, the events systematically employ it, but the effects remain uncertain. It appears that the pursuit of social diversity as a foundation for recurring sporting events mainly takes the form of an imperative, given the prominence of this principle in public policy, thus serving a legitimizing function and generating assumed effects.