Highlights of Economic Impact of International Sports Organisations

This document is a shorter “highlights” version of the full report called Economic Impact of International Sports Organisations in Switzerland.

Why You Should Read It

International Sports Organisations (ISOs) headquartered in Switzerland do far more than govern global competitions; they fuel national and regional economic growth. Between 2014 and 2019, 53 ISOs and their visitors generated CHF 1.68 billion in yearly economic impact, up from CHF 1.07 billion in the previous six-year period.

Here’s why this is crucial:

• Every CHF 1 spent created CHF 1.52 of value in the Swiss economy.
• ISOs supported over 3,300 jobs by 2019, a 48% increase from 2014.
• Tourism boomed with 45,924 guest nights in 2019, up from 33,871 in 2014.
• ISO-led construction investments injected CHF 292 million into infrastructure, generating CHF 1.83 in value per franc spent.
• The majority of funding, over 96%, came from outside Switzerland, meaning the money flowed in rather than out.

This economic multiplier effect highlights that the presence of ISOs in Switzerland is not symbolic. It’s a strategic economic advantage with measurable, expanding impact.

What You Will Find Inside

To ensure credibility, the AISTS study used a rigorous and conservative 6-step methodology adapted from Barget (2001) and Stritt & Voillat (1998). This approach was designed to quantify the tangible economic impact of ISO activities by focusing on net financial injections and realistic multipliers.

Breakdown of the Methodology:

1. Calculation of Total Expenditures
   Includes spending on operations, construction, and business visitor expenses.
2. Estimation of External Revenue
   Determines what percentage of ISO income originates outside the local economy.
3. Calculation of Net Injection
   Measures how much spending stays in Switzerland after accounting for leakages.
4. Primary Income Assessment
   Accounts for direct employee wages and related social contributions.
5. Induced Impact Estimation
   Captures ripple effects from increased household spending by those employed or contracted by ISOs.
6. Overall Economic Impact Computation
   Adds up direct, indirect, and induced impacts using specific multipliers:
   • CHF 1 spent = CHF 1.52 value in Switzerland
   • CHF 1 spent = CHF 1.47 in Vaud
   • CHF 1 spent = CHF 1.32 in Lausanne

This model was deliberately conservative to avoid overestimation, meaning the actual impact may be even greater than reported.