Policy related to sports - In the northern region, sports generated a revenue of over seven billion euros.
Through the world of sports, Schleswig-Holstein has seen a yearly income of over seven billion euros, according to a recent study. The study's presentation took place at Kiel's Landtag, with the presence of CDU's Landtag President Kristina Herbst, State Sports Association President Hans-Jakob Tiessen, IHK President Hagen Goldbeck, and the Managing Director of the Chamber of Crafts, Andreas Katschke. The State Sports Association deemed this research as exceptional and unique nationwide. The study considered data from 2021.
Conducted by Jens Flatau from the Christian-Albrechts-University in Kiel, this examination looked into the impact of sports on the economy. Enthusiasts' spending on admission tickets, beverages, jerseys, and sporting equipment were included. Additionally, sports equipment, horses, and sailing yachts fell under this category.
An excess of 237 million euros in tax revenues was generated from sports, said Flatau. "This equates to approximately 2.06% of the state's overall tax incomes." A large contributor to these revenues is the trade, processing industry, healthcare, and social sectors.
Another finding revealed that 51,460 socially insured individuals worked in the sporting sector. "One out of every twentieth person in the northern region has found employment through or in sports-related activities," Flatau stated. This number exceeds the employees in the maritime economy (37,000).
Back in 2017, a similar study showed how the significance of sports has evolved. In 2014, the sector's turnover was merely under five billion euros. Contrasting this, the current 7.1 billion euros in sports turnover from 2021 is equivalent to approximately 3.5% of Schleswig-Holstein's private economy.
Furthermore, more individuals participated in voluntary work, summing up to 236,500 individuals (168,000 in 2017). The monetary value of this work came to 405 million euros in sport clubs and around 35 million euros in sports associations.
Flatau also discussed the social implications, outlining how sports contributed to healthcare cost reduction. The potential savings from sports involvement in both direct and indirect medical expenses amounted to 1.5 billion euros. Moreover, he added that sports actively contribute to the fight against cancer.
State Sports Association President Tiessen described sports as a "massive economic engine." The survey's results show that sports' economic impact has grown further after the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic. "The significant role sports play in people's well-being, health, and societal progress can also be quantified, making the study's value clear."
The IHK President and the Chamber of Crafts' Managing Director expressed the importance of sports in society. Goldbeck noted that besides serving as economic drivers, sports clubs develop social skills in their members, which are valuable to private businesses. Katschke added that sports foster social cohesion and economic resilience in the state of Schleswig-Holstein.
Finally, Landtag President Herbst stressed the role of sports in social cohesion, as they bring people together. "Whether as a famous pastime, for wellness advantages, as an instrument of integration, or as a means of inclusivity, sports unite individuals." And through volunteer work, sports hold an immeasurable worth for social cohesion.
Read also:
- The study presentation, which discussed the economic impact of sports in Schleswig-Holstein, was attended by several prominent figures, including CDU's Landtag President Kristina Herbst and IHK President Hagen Goldbeck.
- The sports sector in Schleswig-Holstein has seen a significant increase in turnover over the years, with a revenue of over 7 billion euros generated in 2021, as revealed by the study conducted by Jens Flatau.
- The Chamber of Crafts' Managing Director, Andreas Katschke, emphasized the social benefits of sports clubs, stating that they develop valuable social skills in their members and contribute to social cohesion in Schleswig-Holstein.
- In addition to the economic benefits, sports also have significant positive impacts on health, as highlighted by the study's findings, with potential savings of up to 1.5 billion euros from sports involvement in both direct and indirect medical expenses.
- Schleswig-Holstein's State Sports Association President, Hans-Jakob Tiessen, described sports as a "massive economic engine," and praised the growth in its economic impact even after the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.
