The authors propose a marketing approach of the role of innovation within the product policy led by a local authority. After a literature review intended to clarify the concept of innovation applied to sport in the public sector – from the classic model of transmitter communications to the modern models giving an active role to users – the authors discuss the central questions of the character of the product and its life cycle. They then propose a framework for a sport innovation policy. This tool was based on several contractual studies signed with certain innovative public services in France.