How Sport Can Shape a Healthier, More Resilient Future — Insights from the World Economic Forum’s Sports for People and Planet 2026 Report.

A powerful new report released today by the World Economic Forum (WEF), in collaboration with Oliver Wyman, sends a clear message: sport isn’t just a global economy — it’s a force for health, wellbeing and planetary resilience.

The Sports for People and Planet 2026 report outlines how the global sports ecosystem — from grassroots participation to elite competition — can drive healthier societies and more sustainable communities.

Sport Is Big Business — and Bigger Potential.

The global sports economy already generates around $2.3 trillion in annual revenues, accounting for a significant share of global GDP, and is projected to grow to $8.8 trillion by 2050. Yet this growth is threatened by two deeply interconnected global challenges: rising physical inactivity and the accelerating effects of climate change. Without decisive action, the report warns, this could erode hundreds of billions of dollars in future revenues — and, more importantly, undermine sport’s potential to improve lives around the world.

Why This Matters for Health and Well-being.

At its core, the report underscores a fundamental truth backed up by public health authorities like the World Health Organization: physical activity is essential to human health. Regular sport and movement combat major noncommunicable diseases — including heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers — while also supporting mental wellbeing, social connection, and quality of life.

Despite this, global physical inactivity remains alarmingly high, with estimates suggesting that one in three adults and more than 80% of adolescents do not meet recommended activity levels.

This isn’t just a health issue — it’s a systemic challenge that affects families, economies, and communities. Inactivity increases pressures on healthcare systems, reduces workforce productivity, and deepens inequalities in access to the lifelong benefits of movement.

Sport as a Public Good — Not Just Entertainment.

The WEF report calls sport a powerful lever for multidimensional prosperity — not only in economic terms, but for human and planetary wellbeing. It proposes three pathways to harness sport’s full potential:

1. Championing Resource Stewardship.

Sport’s connection to environmental systems — water, land, energy, and fashion — presents opportunities to lead on sustainability. Resource stewardship in sport can drive innovation in everything from stadium design and equipment production to event management that minimises waste and emissions.

2. Placing Sport at the Heart of Cities.

Urban design has a huge influence on health. Cities that prioritise access to parks, walking and cycling infrastructure, and community sport spaces make it easier for people of all ages to be active every day. Around 80% of the determinants of population health lie outside healthcare systems, making this urban approach critical.

3. Catalysing Purpose-Driven Investment.

The report highlights the role of purpose-driven capital investment that pursues financial returns alongside social and environmental impact. Partnerships between private investors, governments, and communities can deliver sport facilities that double as wellness hubs, support community resilience, and make active lifestyles more accessible.

Beyond Profit: Sport’s Broader Role in Wellbeing.

This report arrives at a time when the global conversation about health and wellbeing is rapidly evolving. With pressures on healthcare systems mounting and lifestyle-related diseases on the rise, sport offers a uniquely holistic solution — one that supports physical, mental, and social health simultaneously.

In addition to driving physical activity levels, sport also fosters:

• Social cohesion and inclusion

• Mental resilience and stress reduction

• Youth engagement and community identity

• Economic opportunity through jobs, tourism, and innovation

These benefits ripple far beyond the playing field, improving life outcomes and contributing to healthier communities worldwide.

The essence of Sports for People and Planet 2026 is a call to action: sport stakeholders — from governments and NGOs to brands, leagues, and grassroots organisations — must work together to unlock sport’s full potential.

By aligning sport with public health goals and environmental commitments, the sector can help redefine what prosperity looks like in the 21st century — one that values human wellbeing and ecological resilience as much as economic growth.