The Economic Importance of Sport in Wales - Sport Wales

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Employment in SportTable 4 shows sport-related employment for the years1998 and 2004. Employment statistics in the report arecalculated by using sport related wages and averagesalaries for each sector of the sport economy. It shouldbe noted that, since the last report, the employmentfigures for 1998 have been revised downwards becauseof the availability of new information about thegambling sector which has cast doubt on assumptionsmade about the 1998 employment statistics.Sport employment increased from 19,400 in 1998 to23,200 in 2004 representing a 20 per cent rise. Thebiggest improvements are in education, sports facilitiesand the commercial non sport sector with growth ratesranging between 45 per cent and 25 per cent over theexamined period.Table 4: Sports-related Employment (thousands)1998 2004Commercial non sport sector 8.9 11.1Voluntary sport 2.0 2.0Sport retailing 3.0 3.4Spectator clubs 1.2 1.2Sports facilities 1.8 2.4Education 1.1 1.6Other 1.4 1.5Total 19.4 23.2Comparison with 1998Table 5 provides a comparison of the three mainindicators of the sports economy (Consumerexpenditure, Value added, and Employment) for theyears 1998 and 2004. On the basis of sportsparticipation, sports gambling and TV markets growth,the share of sports related consumer expenditure hasreached the 2.3% level. This is below the UK average of2.6%. However Wales outperforms the UK average interms of the share of sport related value added (1.8%)and employment (1.8%) in the economy.Table 5: Main Indicators (£million)1998 2004Consumer expenditure 539 707Percentage of Wales total 2.2% 2.3%Equivalent UK statistic 2.3% 2.6%Value added 531 704Percentage of Wales total 1.7% 1.8%Equivalent UK statistic 1.5% 1.6%Employment (thousands) 19.4 23.2Percentage of Wales total 1.6% 1.8%Equivalent UK statistic 1.4% 1.6%ConclusionsThe results of this survey emphasise the importance ofsport to the Welsh economy. Not only does sportgenerate a significant amount of consumer expenditure,value added and employment, the relative importanceof these factors in the Welsh economy is increasing. Itwill be interesting to track comparative statistics overthe next five years at a time when the profile of sport inWales will be increased by major events such as theRyder Cup in Newport, the England v Australia testmatch in Cardiff and the London Olympics.6 sportsupdate No.64 May 2008
The Economic Importance Of Sport In WalesFurther ReadingThe following references should be of interest to thosewho wish to explore this area further. They are arrangedin two sequences: those specifically relating to Wales,and those with a broader remit. Copies are available torefer to in the Sports Council for Wales InformationCentre.Wales References(2002) Raising the profile: major sporting events andWelsh regional development, Welsh EconomicReview, Spring 2002, 10-11Despite its inability to close the GDP gap to the rest ofthe UK, or to produce enough entrepreneurs or smallbusinesses, Wales does lead the UK in its ability toattract globally significant sporting events. The shortand long term economic impacts of such events aretherefore subjects of some importance.(2002) Welsh Economic Research Unit Conference,Welsh Economic Review, Autumn 2002, 5-14.In May 2002, the WERU held its 10th annual conferenceand the theme was 'Flexing Welsh Muscle: Sport andEconomic Development'. Following the conference,speakers were invited to provide a summary of theirpresentations which are published in this article. Includespapers on sport and economic regeneration, the UKmotor sport industry, the economic value to Wales ofhosting the Ryder Cup, and rugby in the community.Henley Centre for Forecasting and Sports Council forWales (1990) Sport and the Welsh economy: a studyby the Henley Centre, Cardiff: Sports Council for Wales.This study is the first attempt to quantify the economicinputs, outputs and flows resulting from the existenceof sport in the economy of Wales. The principal aimhas been to provide a snapshot of the role of sport inthe economy and thereby to raise general awareness ofthat role.Institute of Welsh Affairs and David, R (ed) (2007) Sportand economic regeneration: measuring andmaximising the benefits for Wales, Cardiff: Instituteof Welsh AffairsContains presentations from a Conference on Sport andEconomic Regeneration held by the Institute of WelshAffairs in late 2006. Includes papers on: the economicreturn to regions of new stadia and big events; achievingimpact through sport; getting benefits from theOlympics; the Ryder Cup and its importance to Wales.Segal Quince Wicksteed Limited, Wales Tourist Boardand System Three (2000) Rugby World Cup 1999:economic impact evaluation, summary reportProvides a summary of an evaluation of the tournamentcommissioned by the Wales Tourist Board. Theevaluation centred around a programme of researchwhich was undertaken before the event to establish abaseline and in October/November 1999 to gatherevent-related information.Snowdonia-Active (2004) The active economy: thevalue of adventurous outdoor activities to NorthWest WalesAims to establish the contribution of the adventuretourism industry to the local economy of the area withinthe Snowdonia National Park as well as the widereconomy of North West Wales.Sports Council for Wales (2000) The economic impactof sport in Wales: 1998, Cardiff: Sports Council forWalesThis is the fourth study to be undertaken looking at theeconomic impact of sport in Wales. It aims to provide asnapshot of the role and significance of sport in Wales.Sports Council for Wales (1995) The economic impactof sport in Wales, Cardiff: Sports Council for WalesThis is the second study to be undertaken looking at theeconomic impact of sport in Wales. It aims to provide asportsupdate No.64 May 2008 7
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