CYPRUS HAS 2nd HIGHEST RATE OF SPORTS WORKERS IN EU

 Cyprus Mail 28 October 2020 - by Annette Chrysostomou

Cyprus has the second highest rate of sports workers in the EU, Eurostat data for the second quarter of 2020 show.

Among the EU member states, Sweden recorded by far the highest rate of sports workers, 583 per 100,000 inhabitants aged 15 and above, followed by Cyprus (340) and Ireland (327).

The lowest rates were registered in Belgium, 81, Romania, 87, and Poland, 109.

On average, there were 215 sports workers per 100,000 inhabitants aged 15 and above in the second quarter of 2020 in EU countries.

801,700 people over the age of 15 in the EU were employed in the sports and fitness sector, representing 0.4 per cent of total employment.

The majority of sports workers, 57 per cent, were men, and almost one in two sports workers, 48 per cent, were aged between 15-34 years. Almost a third, 30 per cent, were aged 35-49 years and 23 per cent were 50 or older.

“Sport and fitness workers are among those professions likely to be affected by safety measures implemented in response to the Covid-19 pandemic,” Eurostat reported. “Compared with the first quarter of 2020, the total number of sports workers decreased by 6 per cent. Young sport workers aged 15-34 were the most affected (-18 per cent for women, -13 per cent for men).”

According to the statistical service, sports and fitness workers prepare for and compete in sporting events for financial gain; train amateur and professional sportsmen and women to enhance performance; promote participation and standards in sports; organise and officiate sporting events; and provide instruction, training and supervision for various forms of exercise and other recreational activities.