Sport satellite accounts : a European project : new results.
Date: 2013-09-23
Institutions: Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture
Subjects: economic aggregate, national accounts, sport, sports body

N

C

-

0

2

-

1

3

-

2

3

6

-

E

N

-

C

 l Cyprus  does  not  feature  a  significant  sport-related  manufacturing  industry, 

but sport-related services and education are of substantial size. The main ac-

tivities include sport betting, radio and TV sport casting, trade and construc-

tion.  This  reflects  the  general  profile  of  the  Cypriot  economy  as  a  services 

based industry. From a policy point of view the findings highlight the potential 

of  sport  in Cyprus to  contribute  to  the  further  development of  sport-related 

services. This insight is especially useful as sport with its labour-intensive out-

look  can  help  to  reduce  unemployment.  Construction  and  tourism  in  Cyprus 

traditionally  have  lower  multipliers  than  the  EU  averages.  This  indicates  the 

opportunities of structural changes for the whole national economy. Especial-

sport infrastructure has the potential to significantly enhance its sport tour-

ism industry.

 l German sport-related economy is driven by high private consumption. Private 

ly in the area of tourism, Cyprus with its natural competitive advantages and 

 l European Commission (2007): White Paper on Sport, COM (2007) 391 final.

References

 l European Commission (2011): Communication on Developing the European Dimen-

sion in Sport, COM(2011) 12 final

households spent nearly 6.6% of their total expenditure on sport. In difference 

 l MeerWaarde Sports and Economics/SpEA (2010): The Use of Sport Satellite Accounts 

to  the  rather  industry-focused  German  economy  as  a  whole,  Germany  with 

for Policy Purposes, policy paper, Amsterdam and Vienna.

regard to sport can be described as a service-focused country. All in all sport-

related activities sum up to 3.3% of total gross value added. The fact that in 

 l Rütter,  H.  et  al.  (2011):  The  Economic  Significance  of  Sport  in  Switzerland  -  2008. 

Germany  the  share  of  employment  is  considerably  higher  than  the  share  of 

Study on behalf of Federal Office of Sport FOSPO. Rüschlikon.

value added is a consequence of the much increased proportion of part-time 

and less-paid workers in sport-related services – in particular regarding sport 

 l SIRC  (2010):  2004  Sport  Satellite  Account  for  the  UK,  Study  commis-sioned  by 

organisations and suppliers of training services for sport.

DCMS, the department for culture, media and sport, Sport Industry Research Centre, 

Sheffield Hallam University.

 l In  the  Netherlands  in  2006,  household  consumption  is  primarily  related  to 

of  these  events  and  the  interest  for  sport  on  television  and  radio.  Together 

expenditures for practicing sport, visiting sport events, betting on the outcome 

 l SpEA (2007): The Vilnius Definition of Sport, official manual, Vienna and Vilnius.

with the sport-related expenditure on services of the catering industry, these 

 l SpEA (2008): Economic Effects of the UEFA EURO 2008 in Austria, Framework Study 

expenditures  (3.5  bn  Euro)  represent  more  than  half  of  sport-related  con-

(in German) commissioned by the Austrian Federal Chancellery Sports Division and 

sumption  of households.  The rest  is  mostly spent  on  sportswear and  equip-

the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, Vienna.

ment,  such  as  sport  bikes.  The  contribution  of  the  various  industries  to  the 

sport-related  GDP  differs  considerably  from  their  contribution  to  total  GDP. 

 l SpEA, SIRC, Statistical Service of the Republic of Cyprus, Meerwaarde Sport en Econ-

The  manufacturing  industry  contributes  only  8%  to  sport-related  GDP  but 

omie, FESI, Ministry of Sport and Tourism of the Republic of Poland (2012) Study on 

27%  to  total  GDP;  the  non-commercial  services  industry  contributes  more 

the Contribution of Sport to Economic Growth and Employment in the EU.

than 60% to sport-related GDP, but only 24% to total GDP.

 l In  Poland,  the  sections  of  activities  that  are  most  involved  in  generating 

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-culture-media-sport/

sport’s  GDP  include  mainly  sport  and  recreation  services,  education,  trade, 

series/sport-satellite-account-for-the-uk-statistics

 l Sport satellite account for the UK statistics. Results for 2008 are forthcoming on   

transport services, manufacturing and construction. The biggest contribution 

of the manufactured products relates to the metal industry, sport equipment, 

clothes,  underwear  and  pharmaceuticals.  The  structure  of  employment  in 

sport is characterized by a big share of the education sector, sport and recrea-

tion services followed by wholesale and retail trade, transport, and industry 

manufacturing.  The  SSA  results  show  that  the  sport  sector  is  an  important 

part of the Polish economy. Together with the accompanying production and 

services sport contributes to the well-being of the whole society through job 

creation and stimulation of demand.

 l Sport-related consumer spending in the United Kingdom rose from £23.6bn 

in  2004  to  £25.6bn  in  2008.  In  constant  prices,  this  represents  a  decrease 

of  1%  over  the  period  2004  to  2008,  which  reflects  the  start  of  the  severe 

recession in 2008/9. The UK’s sports market, however, increased significantly 

in  terms  of  GVA.  Between  2004  and  2008,  the  overall  growth  was  18%  in 

value terms. Sport-related employment in the UK, starting from a position of 

603,000 in 2004, increased to 671,000 in 2007 and fell back to 630,000 in 

2008, under the influence of the crisis. The rise in both GVA and employment 

is caused by big increases in sport-related construction connected to the 2012 

London Olympics.

Overall  it  can  be  said  that  sport  creates  an  over-proportional  share  of  employ-

ment compared to its contribution to GDP in all countries apart from Cyprus and 

Poland. As an increase in GDP goes hand in hand with an even higher increase in 

the sport-related economy, the latter is a valuable source for employment.

Sport Satellite
Accounts

A European Project:  
New Results

July 2013

Sport

doi:10.2766/47303

What is a Sport Satellite Account?

The EU context

A Sport Satellite Account (SSA) filters the National Accounts for sport-relevant activi-
ties to extract all sport-related value added while maintaining the National Accounts 
structure.  SSAs  permit  all  sport-related  economic  activities  to  show  up  explicitly, 
rather than keeping them concealed in deeply disaggregated (low-level) classifica-
tions of the National Accounts. All economy-wide aggregated values are preserved.

Use and purpose of Sport Satellite Accounts

 l SSAs are a backbone device in economic research, stimulating methodological 

Sport and Economics has developed the “Vilnius Definition of Sport”, as the basis 

rigour and structural coherence.

 l SSAs help policy makers at all levels by providing a framework for sport devel-

opment analyses and investment decisions.

 l SSAs are a labour market analysis reference point.

 l SSAs highlight sport-related specialisation patterns and associated (niche) mar-

kets with above-average growth potential.

 l SSAs serve as a ‘reality check’ on claims voiced by different groups.

 l The creation of SSAs in an EU-wide harmonised manner contributes to attaining 

the goals of the Europe 2020 strategy.

How is sport defined in economic terms?

In  2007,  agreement  was  reached  in  the  EU  context  on  the  «Vilnius  Definition  of 
Sport» with the purpose to define sport statistically and in an economically mean-
ingful way (meanwhile updated to NACE Rev. 2):

 l Statistical Definition: NACE 93.1 Rev. 2; (“sporting activities”, the only part of 

Economic impact of sport

the sport sector having its own NACE category);

 l Narrow Definition: Activities which are inputs to sport (i.e. goods and services 

necessary for doing sport) plus the Statistical Definition.

 l Broad  Definition:  Activities  with  sport  as  input  (i.e.  goods  &  services  related 
to a sport without being necessary for doing sport) plus the Narrow Definition.

This can be illustrated in the following cross-sector presentation:

Broad Deﬁnition

Narrow Deﬁnition

Upstream

Upstream

Prod. of Equipment

Constr. of Infrastructure

Retail, Wholesale

Advertising & PR

Financial Services

Education

Statistical
Deﬁnition

T
R
O
P
S

Downstream

TV, other media

Health System

Tourism

Lotteries and Betting

Sport Food

Sport related R&D

Comparable and sound information on the economic importance of sport in the EU 

and on the macro-economic potential of the sector to contribute to wider policy 

goals, such as the Europe 2020 strategy, is scarce. In the context of EU-level coop-

eration in sport pursuant to Article 165 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, 

there have been increasing demands on the European Commission by policy-mak-

ers, experts and sport stakeholders to provide more reliable and comparable data. 

Following the Commission’s 2007 White Paper on Sport, the former Working Group 

for the collection and production of data at national level. Further encouraged by 

the Commission’s Communication on sport (2011), the Council’s EU Work Plan for 

Sport (2011-2014) and intense cooperation within the EU Expert Group on Sport 

Statistics set up in 2011, meanwhile six EU Member States and Switzerland have 

produced national Sport Satellite Accounts (SSAs) which serve to demonstrate the 

structure and importance of sport in the national economy. Other Member States 

have also started building up their national SSA.

Furthermore, a study on the contribution of sport to economic growth and employ-

ment in the EU, based on the Vilnius Definition, was carried out for the Commission 

in 2011/2012. It shows that 1.76% of EU-wide Gross Value Added and 2.12% of 

respective employment are sport-related. Growth in sport is employment-inten-

sive  and  sport  therefore  has  the  potential  to  contribute  to  counteracting  unem-

ployment. These figures are based on the «Broad Definition», i.e. direct effects only, 

but no multiplier effects from suppliers of intermediate goods. Main contributors 

were found to be “Recreation, Culture, and Sporting Services”, “Education”, “Hotels 

and Restaurants”, “Health and Social Work”, and «Retail Trade, except of Motor Ve-

hicles  and  Motorcycles».  Aggregate  figures  as  well  as  structures,  however,  differ 

substantially between countries. Shares of sport tend to be higher in countries with 

higher GDP.

AT, CH, CY, DE, NL, PL and the UK have produced national SSAs so far. Figures in 

the  tables  reflect  direct  effects  only.  Indirect  effects  from  B2B  supplies  and  in-

duced effects from the consumption of income generated in the sport sector were 

computed as well.1

Employment

Gross Value Added

Consumer

thsd. heads % of total

bn Euro

% of total

bn Euro

% of total

AT

CH

CY

DE

NL

PL

UK

243.0

88.6

7.6

1,765.0

130.0

225.5

629.5

6.4%

2.5%

2.2%

4.4%

1.5%

1.5%

2.5%

10.7

6.0

0.31

73.1

4.7

5.3

36.6

4.9%

1.7%

2.4%

3.3%

1.0%

2.0%

2.3%

4.9

3.6%

0.3

89.1

6.8

3.5

32.0

3.7%

6.6%

2.7%

1.2%

3.0%

Remark 1) Reference year: AT 05, CH 08, CY 04, DE 08, NL 06, PL 06, UK 08

Remark 2) CH: consumer expenditures were not calculated

Remark 3) CH values do not include investment in sport grounds / facilities, expenditures on travel to / 

from sport venues or to / from sport holiday.

1 €  = 0.58 C£ (2004) 

1 € = 3,9 zł (2006) 

1 € = 1,52 CHF (2006) 

1 € = 0.66 £ (2008)

1  These results are available upon request.

Interpretation of results

The countries studied are very different in terms of sport-related production and 

consumption:

 l About half of Austria’s revenue from tourism is sport-related. During winter 

seasons,  only  much  larger  countries  (Spain,  Germany,  UK,  and  Italy)  report 

more  overnight-stays  than  Austria.  In  the  winter  of  2005,  9.1%  of  all  over-

night-stays within the EU were booked in Austria which in turn only represent-

ed  1.8%  of  all  employees.  These  highly  over-proportional  numbers  together 

with the facts that many tourists in winter do sports and most of these guests 

are from abroad lead to the conclusion that Austria is highly focused on ex-

porting sport-tourism.

 l The main sport categories in Switzerland are sport-related tourism and sport 

grounds/facilities  with  a  value  added  contribution  of  24%  and  22%  respec-

tively to the sport industry, followed by sport clubs and federations (15%) and 

the retail and wholesale sector (11%). Gross value added of sport in Switzer-

land  rose  between  2005  and  2008  by  12%,  while  the  total  number  of  full-

time equivalents (FTE) increased by 8%. Like in other countries the contribu-

tion to overall employment is higher than to GDP.

A Sport Satellite Account (SSA) filters the National Accounts for sport-relevant activi-

ties to extract all sport-related value added while maintaining the National Accounts 

structure.  SSAs  permit  all  sport-related  economic  activities  to  show  up  explicitly, 

rather than keeping them concealed in deeply disaggregated (low-level) classifica-

tions of the National Accounts. All economy-wide aggregated values are preserved.

Use and purpose of Sport Satellite Accounts

 l SSAs are a backbone device in economic research, stimulating methodological 

rigour and structural coherence.

 l SSAs help policy makers at all levels by providing a framework for sport devel-

opment analyses and investment decisions.

 l SSAs are a labour market analysis reference point.

 l SSAs highlight sport-related specialisation patterns and associated (niche) mar-

kets with above-average growth potential.

 l SSAs serve as a ‘reality check’ on claims voiced by different groups.

 l The creation of SSAs in an EU-wide harmonised manner contributes to attaining 

the goals of the Europe 2020 strategy.

How is sport defined in economic terms?

In  2007,  agreement  was  reached  in  the  EU  context  on  the  «Vilnius  Definition  of 

Sport» with the purpose to define sport statistically and in an economically mean-

ingful way (meanwhile updated to NACE Rev. 2):

 l Narrow Definition: Activities which are inputs to sport (i.e. goods and services 

necessary for doing sport) plus the Statistical Definition.

 l Broad  Definition:  Activities  with  sport  as  input  (i.e.  goods  &  services  related 

to a sport without being necessary for doing sport) plus the Narrow Definition.

This can be illustrated in the following cross-sector presentation:

Broad Deﬁnition

Narrow Deﬁnition

Upstream

Upstream

Prod. of Equipment

Constr. of Infrastructure

Retail, Wholesale

Advertising & PR

Financial Services

Education

Statistical

Deﬁnition

T

R

O

P

S

Downstream

TV, other media

Health System

Tourism

Lotteries and Betting

Sport Food

Sport related R&D

What is a Sport Satellite Account?

The EU context

Comparable and sound information on the economic importance of sport in the EU 
and on the macro-economic potential of the sector to contribute to wider policy 
goals, such as the Europe 2020 strategy, is scarce. In the context of EU-level coop-
eration in sport pursuant to Article 165 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, 
there have been increasing demands on the European Commission by policy-mak-
ers, experts and sport stakeholders to provide more reliable and comparable data. 

Following the Commission’s 2007 White Paper on Sport, the former Working Group 
Sport and Economics has developed the “Vilnius Definition of Sport”, as the basis 
for the collection and production of data at national level. Further encouraged by 
the Commission’s Communication on sport (2011), the Council’s EU Work Plan for 
Sport (2011-2014) and intense cooperation within the EU Expert Group on Sport 
Statistics set up in 2011, meanwhile six EU Member States and Switzerland have 
produced national Sport Satellite Accounts (SSAs) which serve to demonstrate the 
structure and importance of sport in the national economy. Other Member States 
have also started building up their national SSA.

Furthermore, a study on the contribution of sport to economic growth and employ-
ment in the EU, based on the Vilnius Definition, was carried out for the Commission 
in 2011/2012. It shows that 1.76% of EU-wide Gross Value Added and 2.12% of 
respective employment are sport-related. Growth in sport is employment-inten-
sive  and  sport  therefore  has  the  potential  to  contribute  to  counteracting  unem-
ployment. These figures are based on the «Broad Definition», i.e. direct effects only, 
but no multiplier effects from suppliers of intermediate goods. Main contributors 
were found to be “Recreation, Culture, and Sporting Services”, “Education”, “Hotels 
and Restaurants”, “Health and Social Work”, and «Retail Trade, except of Motor Ve-
hicles  and  Motorcycles».  Aggregate  figures  as  well  as  structures,  however,  differ 
substantially between countries. Shares of sport tend to be higher in countries with 
higher GDP.

 l Statistical Definition: NACE 93.1 Rev. 2; (“sporting activities”, the only part of 

Economic impact of sport

the sport sector having its own NACE category);

AT, CH, CY, DE, NL, PL and the UK have produced national SSAs so far. Figures in 
the  tables  reflect  direct  effects  only.  Indirect  effects  from  B2B  supplies  and  in-
duced effects from the consumption of income generated in the sport sector were 
computed as well.1

Employment

Gross Value Added

Consumer

thsd. heads % of total

bn Euro

% of total

bn Euro

% of total

AT

CH

CY

DE

NL

PL

UK

243.0

88.6

7.6

1,765.0

130.0

225.5

629.5

6.4%

2.5%

2.2%

4.4%

1.5%

1.5%

2.5%

10.7

6.0

0.31

73.1

4.7

5.3

36.6

4.9%

1.7%

2.4%

3.3%

1.0%

2.0%

2.3%

4.9

3.6%

0.3

89.1

6.8

3.5

32.0

3.7%

6.6%

2.7%

1.2%

3.0%

Remark 1) Reference year: AT 05, CH 08, CY 04, DE 08, NL 06, PL 06, UK 08

Remark 2) CH: consumer expenditures were not calculated

Remark 3) CH values do not include investment in sport grounds / facilities, expenditures on travel to / 
from sport venues or to / from sport holiday.

1 €  = 0.58 C£ (2004) 

1 € = 3,9 zł (2006) 

1 € = 1,52 CHF (2006) 

1 € = 0.66 £ (2008)

1  These results are available upon request.

Interpretation of results

The countries studied are very different in terms of sport-related production and 

consumption:

 l About half of Austria’s revenue from tourism is sport-related. During winter 

seasons,  only  much  larger  countries  (Spain,  Germany,  UK,  and  Italy)  report 

more  overnight-stays  than  Austria.  In  the  winter  of  2005,  9.1%  of  all  over-

night-stays within the EU were booked in Austria which in turn only represent-

ed  1.8%  of  all  employees.  These  highly  over-proportional  numbers  together 

with the facts that many tourists in winter do sports and most of these guests 

are from abroad lead to the conclusion that Austria is highly focused on ex-

porting sport-tourism.

 l The main sport categories in Switzerland are sport-related tourism and sport 

grounds/facilities  with  a  value  added  contribution  of  24%  and  22%  respec-

tively to the sport industry, followed by sport clubs and federations (15%) and 

the retail and wholesale sector (11%). Gross value added of sport in Switzer-

land  rose  between  2005  and  2008  by  12%,  while  the  total  number  of  full-

time equivalents (FTE) increased by 8%. Like in other countries the contribu-

tion to overall employment is higher than to GDP.

What is a Sport Satellite Account?

The EU context

A Sport Satellite Account (SSA) filters the National Accounts for sport-relevant activi-

Comparable and sound information on the economic importance of sport in the EU 

ties to extract all sport-related value added while maintaining the National Accounts 

and on the macro-economic potential of the sector to contribute to wider policy 

structure.  SSAs  permit  all  sport-related  economic  activities  to  show  up  explicitly, 

goals, such as the Europe 2020 strategy, is scarce. In the context of EU-level coop-

rather than keeping them concealed in deeply disaggregated (low-level) classifica-

eration in sport pursuant to Article 165 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, 

tions of the National Accounts. All economy-wide aggregated values are preserved.

there have been increasing demands on the European Commission by policy-mak-

 l SSAs are a backbone device in economic research, stimulating methodological 

Sport and Economics has developed the “Vilnius Definition of Sport”, as the basis 

In  2007,  agreement  was  reached  in  the  EU  context  on  the  «Vilnius  Definition  of 

hicles  and  Motorcycles».  Aggregate  figures  as  well  as  structures,  however,  differ 

Sport» with the purpose to define sport statistically and in an economically mean-

substantially between countries. Shares of sport tend to be higher in countries with 

ingful way (meanwhile updated to NACE Rev. 2):

higher GDP.

 l Statistical Definition: NACE 93.1 Rev. 2; (“sporting activities”, the only part of 

Economic impact of sport

the sport sector having its own NACE category);

Use and purpose of Sport Satellite Accounts

rigour and structural coherence.

 l SSAs help policy makers at all levels by providing a framework for sport devel-

opment analyses and investment decisions.

 l SSAs are a labour market analysis reference point.

 l SSAs highlight sport-related specialisation patterns and associated (niche) mar-

kets with above-average growth potential.

 l SSAs serve as a ‘reality check’ on claims voiced by different groups.

 l The creation of SSAs in an EU-wide harmonised manner contributes to attaining 

the goals of the Europe 2020 strategy.

How is sport defined in economic terms?

 l Narrow Definition: Activities which are inputs to sport (i.e. goods and services 

necessary for doing sport) plus the Statistical Definition.

 l Broad  Definition:  Activities  with  sport  as  input  (i.e.  goods  &  services  related 

to a sport without being necessary for doing sport) plus the Narrow Definition.

This can be illustrated in the following cross-sector presentation:

Broad Deﬁnition

Narrow Deﬁnition

Upstream

Upstream

Prod. of Equipment

Constr. of Infrastructure

Retail, Wholesale

Advertising & PR

Financial Services

Education

Statistical

Deﬁnition

T

R

O

P

S

Downstream

TV, other media

Health System

Tourism

Lotteries and Betting

Sport Food

Sport related R&D

ers, experts and sport stakeholders to provide more reliable and comparable data. 

Following the Commission’s 2007 White Paper on Sport, the former Working Group 

for the collection and production of data at national level. Further encouraged by 

the Commission’s Communication on sport (2011), the Council’s EU Work Plan for 

Sport (2011-2014) and intense cooperation within the EU Expert Group on Sport 

Statistics set up in 2011, meanwhile six EU Member States and Switzerland have 

produced national Sport Satellite Accounts (SSAs) which serve to demonstrate the 

structure and importance of sport in the national economy. Other Member States 

have also started building up their national SSA.

Furthermore, a study on the contribution of sport to economic growth and employ-

ment in the EU, based on the Vilnius Definition, was carried out for the Commission 

in 2011/2012. It shows that 1.76% of EU-wide Gross Value Added and 2.12% of 

respective employment are sport-related. Growth in sport is employment-inten-

sive  and  sport  therefore  has  the  potential  to  contribute  to  counteracting  unem-

ployment. These figures are based on the «Broad Definition», i.e. direct effects only, 

but no multiplier effects from suppliers of intermediate goods. Main contributors 

were found to be “Recreation, Culture, and Sporting Services”, “Education”, “Hotels 

and Restaurants”, “Health and Social Work”, and «Retail Trade, except of Motor Ve-

AT, CH, CY, DE, NL, PL and the UK have produced national SSAs so far. Figures in 

the  tables  reflect  direct  effects  only.  Indirect  effects  from  B2B  supplies  and  in-

duced effects from the consumption of income generated in the sport sector were 

computed as well.1

Employment

Gross Value Added

Consumer

thsd. heads % of total

bn Euro

% of total

bn Euro

% of total

AT

CH

CY

DE

NL

PL

UK

243.0

88.6

7.6

1,765.0

130.0

225.5

629.5

6.4%

2.5%

2.2%

4.4%

1.5%

1.5%

2.5%

10.7

6.0

0.31

73.1

4.7

5.3

36.6

4.9%

1.7%

2.4%

3.3%

1.0%

2.0%

2.3%

4.9

3.6%

0.3

89.1

6.8

3.5

32.0

3.7%

6.6%

2.7%

1.2%

3.0%

Remark 1) Reference year: AT 05, CH 08, CY 04, DE 08, NL 06, PL 06, UK 08

Remark 2) CH: consumer expenditures were not calculated

Remark 3) CH values do not include investment in sport grounds / facilities, expenditures on travel to / 

from sport venues or to / from sport holiday.

1 €  = 0.58 C£ (2004) 

1 € = 3,9 zł (2006) 

1 € = 1,52 CHF (2006) 

1 € = 0.66 £ (2008)

1  These results are available upon request.

Interpretation of results

The countries studied are very different in terms of sport-related production and 
consumption:

 l About half of Austria’s revenue from tourism is sport-related. During winter 
seasons,  only  much  larger  countries  (Spain,  Germany,  UK,  and  Italy)  report 
more  overnight-stays  than  Austria.  In  the  winter  of  2005,  9.1%  of  all  over-
night-stays within the EU were booked in Austria which in turn only represent-
ed  1.8%  of  all  employees.  These  highly  over-proportional  numbers  together 
with the facts that many tourists in winter do sports and most of these guests 
are from abroad lead to the conclusion that Austria is highly focused on ex-
porting sport-tourism.

 l The main sport categories in Switzerland are sport-related tourism and sport 
grounds/facilities  with  a  value  added  contribution  of  24%  and  22%  respec-
tively to the sport industry, followed by sport clubs and federations (15%) and 
the retail and wholesale sector (11%). Gross value added of sport in Switzer-
land  rose  between  2005  and  2008  by  12%,  while  the  total  number  of  full-
time equivalents (FTE) increased by 8%. Like in other countries the contribu-
tion to overall employment is higher than to GDP.

N

C

-

0

2

-

1

3

-

2

3

6

-

E

N

-

C

References

 l European Commission (2007): White Paper on Sport, COM (2007) 391 final.

 l European Commission (2011): Communication on Developing the European Dimen-

sion in Sport, COM(2011) 12 final

 l MeerWaarde Sports and Economics/SpEA (2010): The Use of Sport Satellite Accounts 

for Policy Purposes, policy paper, Amsterdam and Vienna.

 l Rütter,  H.  et  al.  (2011):  The  Economic  Significance  of  Sport  in  Switzerland  -  2008. 

Study on behalf of Federal Office of Sport FOSPO. Rüschlikon.

 l SIRC  (2010):  2004  Sport  Satellite  Account  for  the  UK,  Study  commis-sioned  by 

DCMS, the department for culture, media and sport, Sport Industry Research Centre, 

Sheffield Hallam University.

 l SpEA (2007): The Vilnius Definition of Sport, official manual, Vienna and Vilnius.

 l SpEA (2008): Economic Effects of the UEFA EURO 2008 in Austria, Framework Study 

(in German) commissioned by the Austrian Federal Chancellery Sports Division and 

the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, Vienna.

 l SpEA, SIRC, Statistical Service of the Republic of Cyprus, Meerwaarde Sport en Econ-

omie, FESI, Ministry of Sport and Tourism of the Republic of Poland (2012) Study on 

the Contribution of Sport to Economic Growth and Employment in the EU.

 l Sport satellite account for the UK statistics. Results for 2008 are forthcoming on   

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-culture-media-sport/

series/sport-satellite-account-for-the-uk-statistics

 l Cyprus  does  not  feature  a  significant  sport-related  manufacturing  industry, 
but sport-related services and education are of substantial size. The main ac-
tivities include sport betting, radio and TV sport casting, trade and construc-
tion.  This  reflects  the  general  profile  of  the  Cypriot  economy  as  a  services 
based industry. From a policy point of view the findings highlight the potential 
of sport in Cyprus to contribute to the further development  of sport-related 
services. This insight is especially useful as sport with its labour-intensive out-
look  can  help  to  reduce  unemployment.  Construction  and  tourism  in  Cyprus 
traditionally  have  lower  multipliers  than  the  EU  averages.  This  indicates  the 
opportunities of structural changes for the whole national economy. Especial-
ly in the area of tourism, Cyprus with its natural competitive advantages and 
sport infrastructure has the potential to significantly enhance its sport tour-
ism industry.

 l German sport-related economy is driven by high private consumption. Private 
households spent nearly 6.6% of their total expenditure on sport. In difference 
to  the  rather  industry-focused  German  economy  as  a  whole,  Germany  with 
regard to sport can be described as a service-focused country. All in all sport-
related activities sum up to 3.3% of total gross value added. The fact that in 
Germany  the  share  of  employment  is  considerably  higher  than  the  share  of 
value added is a consequence of the much increased proportion of part-time 
and less-paid workers in sport-related services – in particular regarding sport 
organisations and suppliers of training services for sport.

 l In  the  Netherlands  in  2006,  household  consumption  is  primarily  related  to 
expenditures for practicing sport, visiting sport events, betting on the outcome 
of  these  events  and  the  interest  for  sport  on  television  and  radio.  Together 
with the sport-related expenditure on services of the catering industry, these 
expenditures  (3.5  bn  Euro)  represent  more  than  half  of  sport-related  con-
sumption of households. The rest is mostly spent on sportswear  and  equip-
ment,  such  as  sport  bikes.  The  contribution  of  the  various  industries  to  the 
sport-related  GDP  differs  considerably  from  their  contribution  to  total  GDP. 
The  manufacturing  industry  contributes  only  8%  to  sport-related  GDP  but 
27%  to  total  GDP;  the  non-commercial  services  industry  contributes  more 
than 60% to sport-related GDP, but only 24% to total GDP.

 l In  Poland,  the  sections  of  activities  that  are  most  involved  in  generating 
sport’s  GDP  include  mainly  sport  and  recreation  services,  education,  trade, 
transport services, manufacturing and construction. The biggest contribution 
of the manufactured products relates to the metal industry, sport equipment, 
clothes,  underwear  and  pharmaceuticals.  The  structure  of  employment  in 
sport is characterized by a big share of the education sector, sport and recrea-
tion services followed by wholesale and retail trade, transport, and industry 
manufacturing.  The  SSA  results  show  that  the  sport  sector  is  an  important 
part of the Polish economy. Together with the accompanying production and 
services sport contributes to the well-being of the whole society through job 
creation and stimulation of demand.

 l Sport-related consumer spending in the United Kingdom rose from £23.6bn 
in  2004  to  £25.6bn  in  2008.  In  constant  prices,  this  represents  a  decrease 
of  1%  over  the  period  2004  to  2008,  which  reflects  the  start  of  the  severe 
recession in 2008/9. The UK’s sports market, however, increased significantly 
in  terms  of  GVA.  Between  2004  and  2008,  the  overall  growth  was  18%  in 
value terms. Sport-related employment in the UK, starting from a position of 
603,000 in 2004, increased to 671,000 in 2007 and fell back to 630,000 in 
2008, under the influence of the crisis. The rise in both GVA and employment 
is caused by big increases in sport-related construction connected to the 2012 
London Olympics.

Overall  it  can  be  said  that  sport  creates  an  over-proportional  share  of  employ-
ment compared to its contribution to GDP in all countries apart from Cyprus and 
Poland. As an increase in GDP goes hand in hand with an even higher increase in 
the sport-related economy, the latter is a valuable source for employment.

Sport Satellite

Accounts

A European Project:  

New Results

July 2013

Sport

doi:10.2766/47303

N
C
-
0
2
-
1
3
-
2
3
6
-
E
N
-
C

ly in the area of tourism, Cyprus with its natural competitive advantages and 

 l European Commission (2007): White Paper on Sport, COM (2007) 391 final.

References

households spent nearly 6.6% of their total expenditure on sport. In difference 

 l MeerWaarde Sports and Economics/SpEA (2010): The Use of Sport Satellite Accounts 

to  the  rather  industry-focused  German  economy  as  a  whole,  Germany  with 

for Policy Purposes, policy paper, Amsterdam and Vienna.

regard to sport can be described as a service-focused country. All in all sport-

related activities sum up to 3.3% of total gross value added. The fact that in 

 l Rütter,  H.  et  al.  (2011):  The  Economic  Significance  of  Sport  in  Switzerland  -  2008. 

Germany  the  share  of  employment  is  considerably  higher  than  the  share  of 

Study on behalf of Federal Office of Sport FOSPO. Rüschlikon.

 l European Commission (2011): Communication on Developing the European Dimen-

sion in Sport, COM(2011) 12 final

 l SIRC  (2010):  2004  Sport  Satellite  Account  for  the  UK,  Study  commis-sioned  by 
DCMS, the department for culture, media and sport, Sport Industry Research Centre, 
Sheffield Hallam University.

expenditures for practicing sport, visiting sport events, betting on the outcome 

 l SpEA (2007): The Vilnius Definition of Sport, official manual, Vienna and Vilnius.

 l SpEA (2008): Economic Effects of the UEFA EURO 2008 in Austria, Framework Study 
(in German) commissioned by the Austrian Federal Chancellery Sports Division and 
the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, Vienna.

 l SpEA, SIRC, Statistical Service of the Republic of Cyprus, Meerwaarde Sport en Econ-
omie, FESI, Ministry of Sport and Tourism of the Republic of Poland (2012) Study on 
the Contribution of Sport to Economic Growth and Employment in the EU.

 l Sport satellite account for the UK statistics. Results for 2008 are forthcoming on   

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-culture-media-sport/
series/sport-satellite-account-for-the-uk-statistics

Sport Satellite

Accounts

A European Project:  

New Results

July 2013

Sport

doi:10.2766/47303

 l Cyprus  does  not  feature  a  significant  sport-related  manufacturing  industry, 

but sport-related services and education are of substantial size. The main ac-

tivities include sport betting, radio and TV sport casting, trade and construc-

tion.  This  reflects  the  general  profile  of  the  Cypriot  economy  as  a  services 

based industry. From a policy point of view the findings highlight the potential 

of sport in  Cyprus  to contribute to the further development of sport-related 

services. This insight is especially useful as sport with its labour-intensive out-

look  can  help  to  reduce  unemployment.  Construction  and  tourism  in  Cyprus 

traditionally  have  lower  multipliers  than  the  EU  averages.  This  indicates  the 

opportunities of structural changes for the whole national economy. Especial-

sport infrastructure has the potential to significantly enhance its sport tour-

ism industry.

 l German sport-related economy is driven by high private consumption. Private 

value added is a consequence of the much increased proportion of part-time 

and less-paid workers in sport-related services – in particular regarding sport 

organisations and suppliers of training services for sport.

 l In  the  Netherlands  in  2006,  household  consumption  is  primarily  related  to 

of  these  events  and  the  interest  for  sport  on  television  and  radio.  Together 

with the sport-related expenditure on services of the catering industry, these 

expenditures  (3.5  bn  Euro)  represent  more  than  half  of  sport-related  con-

sumption  of households. The rest is mostly spent on sportswear and  equip-

ment,  such  as  sport  bikes.  The  contribution  of  the  various  industries  to  the 

sport-related  GDP  differs  considerably  from  their  contribution  to  total  GDP. 

The  manufacturing  industry  contributes  only  8%  to  sport-related  GDP  but 

27%  to  total  GDP;  the  non-commercial  services  industry  contributes  more 

than 60% to sport-related GDP, but only 24% to total GDP.

 l In  Poland,  the  sections  of  activities  that  are  most  involved  in  generating 

sport’s  GDP  include  mainly  sport  and  recreation  services,  education,  trade, 

transport services, manufacturing and construction. The biggest contribution 

of the manufactured products relates to the metal industry, sport equipment, 

clothes,  underwear  and  pharmaceuticals.  The  structure  of  employment  in 

sport is characterized by a big share of the education sector, sport and recrea-

tion services followed by wholesale and retail trade, transport, and industry 

manufacturing.  The  SSA  results  show  that  the  sport  sector  is  an  important 

part of the Polish economy. Together with the accompanying production and 

services sport contributes to the well-being of the whole society through job 

creation and stimulation of demand.

 l Sport-related consumer spending in the United Kingdom rose from £23.6bn 

in  2004  to  £25.6bn  in  2008.  In  constant  prices,  this  represents  a  decrease 

of  1%  over  the  period  2004  to  2008,  which  reflects  the  start  of  the  severe 

recession in 2008/9. The UK’s sports market, however, increased significantly 

in  terms  of  GVA.  Between  2004  and  2008,  the  overall  growth  was  18%  in 

value terms. Sport-related employment in the UK, starting from a position of 

603,000 in 2004, increased to 671,000 in 2007 and fell back to 630,000 in 

2008, under the influence of the crisis. The rise in both GVA and employment 

is caused by big increases in sport-related construction connected to the 2012 

London Olympics.

Overall  it  can  be  said  that  sport  creates  an  over-proportional  share  of  employ-

ment compared to its contribution to GDP in all countries apart from Cyprus and 

Poland. As an increase in GDP goes hand in hand with an even higher increase in 

the sport-related economy, the latter is a valuable source for employment.