The Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry (Fesi) is calling EU Member States to include sport and physical activities as a priority in sectors that are not principally defined as sport but where the contribution of sport has nevertheless been widely demonstrated. These areas include, for example, health, education, transports, urban planning, tourism and social policies. The EU figures now acknowledge the economic dimension of sport across a variety of sectors. Sport accounts for 2.12 percent of the EU gross domestic product (GDP) while sport-related employment involve 5.67 million people, which is 2.72 percent of total EU employment, Fesi said. It is also clear, according to numerous studies, that sports and physical exercise help in maintaining good health. The economic cost of physical inactivity is equally clear. A recent report by the International Sport and Culture Association (Isca) estimates that physical inactivity costs the EU around €80 billion per year.
Meanwhile, although several studies show the importance of sport as well as its economic contribution to other sectors, Member States still need to collect more data and indicators on it, the EU Council said. More needs to be done also to monitor, raise awareness of and promote sporting activities and international cooperation. At the latest meeting of the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council (EYCS), which was held in Brussels on Nov. 26-27, EU ministers adopted new conclusions in which they mentioned the economic dimensions of sport and its socio-economic benefits. Following these meeting and developments, Fesi said it strongly welcomes the political support for sport coming from the EU Council. The trade organization is now urging the national authorities of EU Member States to convince their respective authorities of the positive impact of sport, and thus of the need to take concrete action in that respect. The European sporting goods market is expected to be worth €180 billion by 2024, Fesi said.
