This paper looks at the contribution sport makes to economic development. It assesses the role of the sporting goods industry, commercial sport as well as the role of community sport programmes that seek to increase economic opportunities for young people in developing countries.
Sport began as a leisure time activity reserved only for a few declared amateurs. In the 20th century however it has become a social phenomenon for the masses. In industrial countries sport has developed into its own economic branch contributing about two percent to gross domestic product (GDP). Today’s challenge is to make sport an economic factor also in less developed countries. The whole world is waiting expectantly for this event – the 19th football World Cup which is set to kick off at the beginning of June 2010 at “Soccer City” stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. For the first time in its history, the world’s biggest sporting event, besides the summer Olympic Games, will take place in Africa.
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