The report states that aligning the following three priorities is one of the most cost-effective growth
and health interventions available today:

• Trade frameworks that support resilient global value chains and predictable market access
• Fiscal and regulatory treatment that recognizes the relationship between affordability and participation
• Public-private cooperation that connects industry capabilities with national health, industrial and sporting objectives.

Sporting goods face an average applied tariff of 14.1% nearly three times the rate applied across all traded goods. The report recognises the penalty is rooted in the industry’s own sophistication – the technical, multi-country production that makes sporting goods effective for health and performance is the same characteristic that exposes it to repeated tariff charges as materials, components and finished products cross borders.

What makes the products good for people makes them expensive to trade and in turn, discretionary items in many households. “At a time when physical inactivity is rising globally, we should be looking at how policy can make sport more accessible for people of all ages and backgrounds," said Zwiebler. “Governments, industry and society all have a role to play in aligning policy to keep barriers to
participation as low as possible."

WFSGI Co-Chairs Jorge Casimiro and Dave Wheeler see this report as both a benchmark and a platform for the sporting goods industry:

Jorge Casimiro, Co-Chair of WFSGI and Chief Government & Public Affairs and Public Policy Officer at Nike: “This report provides compelling evidence that the sporting goods industry is not simply another player in the global economy, but one of the world's great economic and social success stories. What truly distinguishes our industry is its dual role as both an economic powerhouse and a crucial driver behind sport and participation."

Dave Wheeler, Co-Chair of WFSGI and Chief Operating Officer at New Balance: "Every investment, every innovation and every product is intrinsically linked to a broader public good. When more people participate in sport and movement, society benefits through improved physical and mental health, enhanced productivity and stronger communities."

Tony Simpson, Partner, Global Sport Industry Lead, at Marsh’s Oliver Wyman said: “For the first time, we can put a comprehensive economic value on the sporting goods industry and demonstrate the scale of its contribution to the global economy. What stands out from the analysis is not just the industry’s economic footprint, but the relationship between innovation, participation, and public health. The industry’s economic success and participation are closely connected. Greater participation supports industry growth and continued investment in innovation, while also contributing to healthier populations and stronger economies.”

• 31% of adults (1.8 billion people) and over 80% of adolescents do not meet the recommended levels of physical activity.
• If the trend continues, inactivity is projected to reach 35% of adults by 2030.
• The global target is a 15% relative reduction in inactivity by 2030, from a 2010 baseline.
• Physical inactivity is projected to cost public health systems about US$300 billion globally between 2020–2030 (~US$27 billion/year) if levels don't improve.
• WHO recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week for adults and 60 minutes per day for children and youth.
• Women are less active than men by an average of 5 percentage points - a gap that hasn't changed since 2000.
• Adolescent girls are less active than boys: 85% vs. 78% not meeting WHO guidelines.
• Read the full WFSGI Physical Activity Impact Report here.

The World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) is the global trade association representing the sporting goods industry, with 150 member companies accounting for approximately 70% of global sporting goods turnover. WFSGI works at the intersection of sport, business and public policy to drive a healthier, more active planet for all. The federation is the Recognised Organisation for Sporting Goods in the Olympic Movement and has Official Relations with the World Health Organisation to support global physical activity goals. www.wfsgi.org

Oliver Wyman is a business of Marsh (NYSE: MRSH), a global leader in risk, reinsurance and capital, people and investments, and management consulting, advising clients in 130 countries. With annual revenue of $27 billion and more than 95,000 colleagues, Marsh helps build the confidence to thrive through the power of perspective. 

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