Sports for People and Planet
The $2.3 trillion global sports economy is experiencing robust growth, with annual revenues projected to reach $8.8 trillion by 2050. However, this trajectory is increasingly at risk due to rising levels of physical inactivity and escalating environmental challenges – factors that could erode up to $1.6 trillion in annual revenue by mid-century and undermine the sector’s broader impact.
The $2.3 trillion global sports economy is experiencing robust growth, with annual revenues projected to reach $8.8 trillion by 2050. However, this trajectory is increasingly at risk due to rising levels of physical inactivity and escalating environmental challenges – factors that could erode up to $1.6 trillion in annual revenue by mid-century and undermine the sector’s broader impact.
In response, the World Economic Forum, in collaboration with Oliver Wyman, has developed this insight report to highlight the urgent social and economic imperative for coordinated public–private action to secure the sector’s long-term resilience. By presenting transformative, multistakeholder pathways and innovative case studies, the report demonstrates how sport can actively shape a future where prosperity is defined not only by financial returns, but also by healthier societies and thriving natural ecosystems.
This approach ensures that the future of sport remains competitive and inspiring, while also being sustainable and inclusive for people and the planet alike.