18 Jan 2022 – A new report, published today by the International Academy for Sports Science and Technology (AISTS), demonstrates the increasing positive impact that the presence of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Sports Organisations has on the local and wider Swiss economy. The study, conducted by AISTS with the endorsement of the City of Lausanne, the Canton of Vaud and the IOC, covers the period from 2014 to 2019.

It is the third study in the series. The first was based on data from 2004 to 2007, while the second covered the period from 2008 to 2013, and was released in 2015.

Overall, the current study, which consolidates data from 53 International Sports Organisations that had a physical presence in Switzerland during the years 2014 to 2019, shows that the value created by these organisations corresponds to an increased growth in their economic impact of 57 per cent for the whole of Switzerland, compared to the previous period of 2008 to 2013.

Key findings of the study include:

• The yearly average economic impact created by these organisations was CHF 1.68 billion for Switzerland, compared to CHF 1.07 billion for the 2008-2013 period
• The yearly average economic impact created by these organisations was CHF 0.87 billion for the Canton of Vaud, compared to CHF 0.55 billion for the 2008-2013 period
• The yearly average economic impact created by these organisations was CHF 0.55 billion for the Lausanne Region, compared to CHF 0.25 billion for the 2008-2013 period
• In 2019, the 53 International Sports Organisations in Switzerland employed 3,343 people, an increase from 2,249 in 2014
  • More than 75 per cent of these employees worked for the IOC or organisations financially supported by the IOC
  • Among these employees, 1,836 lived in the Canton of Vaud
• The number of residents of the Lausanne Region employed in the International Sports Organisations increased from 806 to 996 during the 2014 to 2019 period, representing an increase of 24 per cent from the previous period

The additional impact in this period has been generated by an increase in the annual average spending in Switzerland by these organisations and their visitors which was CH 1.10 billion in the period studied, compared to an average annual spending of CHF 0.70 billion between 2008 and 2013. This economic impact is shown to have a positive effect on employment, business tourism and the construction sector.

Over the 2014-2019 period, International Sports Organisations in Switzerland between them spent CHF 292 million on construction and renovation projects. One of these was the construction of Olympic House, one of the most sustainable buildings of the world. The study reveals that most of the costs of these construction and renovation projects were incurred in Switzerland, through local contractors, giving rise to substantial added value and an important overall economic impact. In the case of Olympic House, 80 per cent of construction costs were spent with local contractors. The analysis shows that over the six years, the overall economic impact on the construction sector of spending by International Sports Organisations amounted to about CHF 534 million. The Canton of Vaud, including the Lausanne Region, benefited from 53 per cent of this impact, while the rest of the Swiss economy benefited from the remaining 47 per cent of this impact.

Commenting on the findings of this report, IOC President Thomas Bach, said: “We congratulate the research team and welcome this report and its positive conclusions. The IOC is proud to have contributed to the significant 57 per cent growth in economic impact generated for Switzerland since the last study period. The contribution has resulted, among other things, from employment opportunities and, of course, from the construction of Olympic House, the permanent home of the Olympic Movement. Eighty per cent of construction costs were spent with local contractors. As one of the most sustainable buildings in the world, it represents an important long-term investment in the future of the Olympic Movement.”

President Bach continued: “We are delighted to be able to give back to the city, region and country that host the IOC and so many International Sports Organisations, and with which we enjoy a special relationship, by generating an economic impact that goes well beyond the sporting sector. As the leader of the Olympic Movement, the IOC redistributes 90 per cent of its revenues to support the development of athletes and sports organisations around the world, including in Switzerland. This study shows that our contribution goes even further.”

The full version of The Economic Impact of International Sports Organisations in Switzerland – 2014-2019, is available here. In addition to the detailed findings and tables, it includes a full account of the research methodology, the literature consulted, and the independent academic experts who provided guidance on the methodology applied.