Growth in the sport sector has outstripped the English economy as a whole over the past two decades, according to a report by Sport England.

The Economic Value of Sport in England, published today (14 August), suggest the sport economy's annual contribution has reached £16.67bn, an increase of 140 per cent in real terms between 1985 and 2008.The report also shows that a major factor in the sharp increase in announced developments in the past five years has been London’s successful bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games.

Growth between 2005 and 2008 was "driven by investment directed towards the London Olympics and a long-term Sport England policy to increase sport participation".

The report, commissioned by Sport England and carried out by the Sport Industry Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam University, shows that consumer spend on sport in England was £17.384bn in 2008 - up 138 per cent since 1985.

The number of people with sport-related jobs has also grown, reaching 441,000 – accounting for 1.8 per cent of all employment in England.

More than 75 per cent of these jobs are in the commercial sector, with 13 per cent working in the public sector.

When comparing the value of the sport sectors across the country, London makes the largest total contribution, while per capita spending on sport is greatest in the east of England at £404.

To see the full findings – and regional statistics – of the report, click here.