Despite competition from other leisure time activities, sport participation continues to be one of the UK’s most popular pastimes. Sport alone has made major contributions to the country’s economy with the sector employing just under 2% of the work force and being worth two times more in terms of GDP than the entire British agriculture sector.

Over the last 10 years there has been a significant shift in the British consumers’ attitude towards healthy living. Staying fit and maintaining a healthy diet has quickly moved up the list of priorities for many and this appears to have contributed greatly to the trend of increased sport participation.

The advent of professional rugby in 1995 has allowed the sport to become a world-class competitive sport, making money for clubs, players, sponsors and Ireland itself. However it has also highlighted the need for significant expenditure to keep Irish rugby competitive on the world stage.

Mintel's new report provides a detailed analysis of the business behind this key sports market. Where is investment needed? How can the industry foster and grow the enthusiastic playing base?

Besides considering golf as a tourist attraction, this report takes a broader view of the sport in Ireland. Golf is analysed as a participant sport; as a spectacle, both live and in the media; and as a growing segment of the property development industry. Exclusive consumer research and authoritative market analysis provide insight into all the key industry issues.

Historically, golf in Ireland has a long-established pedigree. In fact the Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI) is the oldest union in the world, founded in 1891. Available data show that the GUI had just less than 254,000 affiliated members in 2003. The Irish Ladies Golf Union was established in 1893. The establishment and subsequent existence of both organisations demonstrate that the Irish golfing industry is relatively mature. What is the result of inward investment through development in the 1990s and a continuous increase in the number of golfers and clubs?

Mintel estimates that spending on sports goods increased to £4,480 million in 2003. The market is driven by consumers’ appropriation of sports clothing and footwear as general casualwear, and major sports brands such as Nike, adidas and Reebok are worn by a wide cross-section of the population. The cult celebrity surrounding football in the UK also boosts sales of these brands and drives sales of replica shirts.

Three-quarters of UK sales are through specialist sports shops with the top five companies accounting for most of this revenue. Multiple chains dominate the British market – the market leaders include JJB Sports, Sports World, John David Group, Blacks Leisure and Allsports.

Outdoor sports may not enjoy the media profile of the UK's most popular spectator sports, but in participation and economic terms they comprise a significant sector of the overall sports market. In 2003, research revealed that walking is in fact the UK's most popular participation sport. Meanwhile a recent study backed by the Countryside Agency highlighted the economic potential of the outdoor sports market, finding that Britain's longest National Trail, the South West Coast Path, generates £300 million a year and supports 7,500 jobs.

Exclusive primary research has been used to build demographic analysis of key consumer groups within the market and to assess how these consumers behave and what attitudes they hold towards outdoor sports. This report offers a unique analysis of the current state of the UK outdoor sports market, (including demand for clothing and holidays) and outlines prospective future developments that will influence the shape of the industry in the short and medium term. These include: