Financial mechanisms and economic effects of sports in modern Russia

XML: 

21-financial.xml

ˑ: 

A.K. Namazov
Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg; Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Saint Petersburg (Saint Petersburg, Russia).
Email: kuem@list.ru
N.A. Ragozina
Saint-Petersburg State Economic University, Saint Petersburg (Saint Petersburg, Russia).
S.M. Kashin
Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg (Saint Petersburg, Russia).
A.V. Mukhina
Lesgaft National State University of Physical Education, Sport and Health, Saint Petersburg (Saint Petersburg, Russia).

No. 6, pp. 49–51

Received: 04.04.2026 | Published: 02.06.2026

CC BY 4.0

Abstract

Objective of the study is to identify the financial mechanisms and economic effects of the functioning of sport in modern Russia. Methods and structure of the study. The research was carried out on the basis of a systematic approach using economic-statistical methods, analysis of official data from the Ministry of Sport of the Russian Federation, federal budget reports and market indicators of the fitness industry for the period 2019–2025. Results and conclusions. The economic significance of sport manifests through multiple mechanisms: the generation of direct revenues from paid services, the provision of jobs in related industries (tourism, retail, media), the influence on labour productivity through improving public health, as well as social effects associated with the prevention of socially significant diseases. Sport in Russia functions as a multi-level economic system in which state investments in non-commercial sport and support for youth programmes create the foundation for the development of the commercial sports industry. This interaction generates both direct economic effects (job creation, tax revenues) and significant indirect and social effects (improvement of public health, reduction of socially negative phenomena and development of human capital).

Keywords

economics of sport, service sector, commercial sport, state financing, fitness industry

References

  1. Avilova I.A. Industriya sporta i ee rol v ekonomike gosudarstva [The sports industry and its role in the state economy]. Theoretical Economics. 2024. No. 4. Pp. 61-71.
  2. Belikova E.V., Chernyavskaya E.Yu. Sotsialnyye i ekonomicheskiye aspekty funktsionirovaniya sportivnykh organizatsiy [Social and economic aspects of the functioning of sports organisations]. Creative Economy. 2023. V. 17. No. 2. Pp. 271-295.
  3. Biznes-sekrety T-Biznesa. Skolko rossiyane tratyat na fitnes i sporttovary v 2025 godu [How much Russians spend on fitness and sporting goods in 2025]. Tinkoff. 2025. URL: https://secrets.tbank.ru (date of access: 20.12.2025).
  4. Vedomosti. Bolshe sportsmenov i stadionov, no menshe deneg [More athletes and stadiums, but less money]. Vedomosti: official publication. 2025. 13 April. URL: https://www.vedomosti.ru (date of access: 20.12.2025).
  5. Dokhody klubov RPL v sezone 2022/2023 [RPL club revenues in the 2022/2023 season]. Championat.com. 2023. URL: https://www.championat.com (date of access: 20.12.2025).
  6. Zaytseva I.A. Sport glazami ekonomista: sovremennoye sostoyaniye predmeta [Sport through the eyes of an economist: the current state of the subject]. Issues of Economics. 2019. No. 11. Pp. 100-120.
  7. Lednev V.A. Razvitiye universitetskogo sporta v Rossii: menedzhment i ekonomika [Development of university sport in Russia: management and economics]. Physical Education and Student Sport. 2022. V. 1. No. 2. Pp. 152-157. DOI: 10.18500/2782-4594-2022-1-2-152-157.
  8. Ministerstvo sporta Rossiyskoy Federatsii. Yezhegodnyy svodnyy otchet o deyatelnosti [Ministry of Sport of the Russian Federation. Annual consolidated activity report]. Moscow, 2024.
  9. Ministerstvo sporta Rossiyskoy Federatsii. Natsionalnyy proyekt "Demografiya". Strategiya razvitiya fizicheskoy kultury i sporta v RF na period do 2030 goda [Ministry of Sport of the Russian Federation. National project "Demography". Strategy for the development of physical culture and sport in the RF for the period until 2030]. Moscow, 2019.
  10. Ministerstvo sporta Rossiyskoy Federatsii. Reyestr sportivnykh nekommercheskikh organizatsiy [Ministry of Sport of the Russian Federation. Register of sports non-commercial organisations]. Moscow, 2024.
  11. Ministerstvo sporta Rossiyskoy Federatsii. Svodnyy otchet po forme 1-FK za 2024 god [Ministry of Sport of the Russian Federation. Consolidated report on form 1-FK for 2024]. Moscow, 2025.
  12. Namazov A.K. Aktualnyye voprosy razvitiya massovogo sporta v Rossii [Current issues in the development of mass sport in Russia]. Saint Petersburg: Peter the Great SPbPU, 2025. 74 p. ISBN: 978-5-7422-9100-8.
  13. Namazov A.K., Gazieva I.S. Razvitiye massovogo sporta, fizicheskogo vospitaniya i zdorovogo obraza zhizni v Rossii [Development of mass sport, physical education and healthy lifestyle in Russia]. Health as the Basis of Human Potential: Problems and Solutions. 2014. V. 9. No. 1. Pp. 433-437.
  14. Rossiyskiy rynok fitnes-uslug prodolzhayet rasti [The Russian fitness services market continues to grow]. Fitclub.ru. 2025. URL: https://fitclub.ru (date of access: 20.12.2025).
  15. Solntsev I.V., Kurov A.A. Dizayn sportivnogo turnira kak istochnik ekonomicheskogo effekta [Sports tournament design as a source of economic effect]. Journal of Applied Economic Research. 2024. V. 23. No. 2. Pp. 304-340. DOI: 10.15826/vestnik.2024.23.2.013.