Value of Sport Observatory

A platform for high-level analysis of the sport sector in Italy, aimed at its strategic and qualified positioning with the key decision makers of the country and its supply chains.

The 2025/2026 edition of the Value of Sport Observatory was launched on July 9, 2025, with the first Advisory Board meeting, kindly hosted at the Regione Lombardia's headquarters by Federica Picchi (Undersecretary with responsibility for Sport and Youths of the Region) and with the participation of Martina Riva (Councillor for Sport of the Municipality of Milan), who provided us with a state of the art on the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics and Paralympics a few months before the event and an overview of the policies for promoting physical activity in the territories.

According to WHO's guidelines, Italy is among the worst OECD countries for the amount of time spent exercising by adults, children and teenagers.

People's health considerably depends on their lifestyle. Sedentary behaviour is among the main risk factors that cause an increase in years of ill health in Italy. 

The extended supply chain of sport in Italy is worth €26.2 billion, equal to 1.4% of the national GDP, and employs over 412,000 people, that is 1.6% of total employment.

Italy ranks 17th among EU-27 countries in terms of public spending on sport. Moreover, 60% of sports facilities were built more than 40 years ago and almost 6 out of 10 schools do not have a gym.

The cost of accessing courses and facilities has also risen in the last three years, representing a real barrier to practising sport. A change of course is needed to ensure that practising sport is truly accessible to the entire national community.