Continuing a trend apparent for two decades, the annual sport expenditure trends essay released by the Sports Industry Research Centre (SIRC) at Sheffield Hallam University, predicts that the UK's £20.7 billion ($31.8 billion/€24.9 billion) sporting economy will keep outperforming the economy as a whole.

Growth, however, will not be evenly spread among different sports segments, with clothing and gambling expected to expand relatively rapidly, while sports-related publications are likely to see revenue fall.

"Over the last 20 years the sport industry has continued to take a greater and greater share of national economic activity," said SIRC's Professor Chris Gratton.

"The hosting of the 2012 Olympics will only accelerate this long-term trend."

Taking a three-year view, SIRC predicts that the sports clothing industry will be the biggest winner, rising 15 per cent to account for £5 billion ($7.7 billion/€6 billion) of the overall market in 2015.

The sports gambling industry should expand by nearly six per cent over the same time-frame to £3.2 billion ($4.9 billion/€3.9 billion).

Investment in the health and fitness sector is expected to supplement the Olympic effect as a driver of long-term economic growth, with that industry expanding by two per cent this year, buoyed by investment in small towns which currently have limited provision.


In a finding that will be music to the ears of Sport England, meanwhile, SIRC thinks that a rise in community-based investment in fitness clubs is likely to trigger an increase in participation.

It also expects spectator sports to record a rise in attendance this year, following record attendances at Ascot, Wimbledon and the British Grand Prix during 2011.

On a more sombre note, the revenue fall at sports-related publications is put at around 5 per cent, which would make this sector the biggest loser in Britain's sporting economy.

In the words of SIRC co-head Professor Simon Shibli: "The sport industry continues to be resilient, outstripping the economy as a whole during boom times and contracting less during leaner times."

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