Sporting Goods Industry

The global industry that manufactures and sells sporting goods, the tools, materials, apparel and gear used in a particular sport, including balls, nets, rackets, protective gear such as helmets and goggles, footwear, clothing and specialized training equipment across many athletic disciplines. Trade in sporting goods grew steadily within the European Union and between the EU and the rest of the world between 2017 and 2020, and improving equipment technology has driven corresponding gains in athlete performance, with modern gear trending toward lighter, stronger materials that interact biomechanically with the athlete and increasingly incorporate wearable electronics that deliver performance data. The industry operates under international ethical manufacturing standards addressing concerns such as child labor, exemplified by the 1997 Atlanta Agreement targeting Pakistan's football manufacturing industry.