Sporting Goods Sales in Eastern Europe

WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 22, 2006 – Market research on the sporting goods industry behind the old Iron Curtain is now available. For the first time ever, the leading product categories and the ‘major players’ in the sports industry within Eastern Europe have been uncovered. It’s all contained in The European Sports Goods Market — Focus on the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia. Together, those four countries represent more than 75 million people.

According to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA), the ability to conduct such a study coincided with the accession of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and six other nations to the European Union in June of 2004.

For each of the four countries featured in this 252-page report, a number of issues are covered such as Sports Participation, The Sporting Goods Market, Influences on Consumption, Retailing, Manufacturing, Market Prospects, Counterfeit Products & Parallel Imports, among others. There is also a section in this report which analyzes the size and scope of the sporting goods industry in Slovenia and the Baltic Republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

This particular study has been produced by Sporting Goods Intelligence Europe for The Sports Industries Federation of Great Britain and is being distributed in the United States by SGMA. To order this report, go to www.SGMA.com; click on Insight; click on Industry; and click on Global Markets.

About SGMA
The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) is the global business trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products industry. SGMA, owner of the Sports Research Partnership®, enhances industry vitality and fosters sports, fitness, and active lifestyle participation. More information about SGMA can be found at www.SGMA.com.