Sports fans in Britain and Germany continue to spend

By Antonella Ciancio

MILAN, June 24 (Reuters) - The majority of sports fans in Britain and Germany are continuing to spend on sport travel, merchandise or leisure activities such as going to the gym, a report released on Wednesday said.

An online survey conducted by German sports marketing group Sport+Markt showed only 17 percent of German fans were considering attending fewer sporting events although 19 percent said they would rather watch sport on television.

In Britain, 34 percent of respondents said they would prefer to save money instead of going to the stadium.

Although Germany's economy is set for a sharp 6.1 percent contraction this year it should grow 0.2 percent in 2010, according to forecasts from the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released on Wednesday. [ID:nPAB007741]

Britain's economy, however, is likely to contract 4.2 percent this year and remain flat in 2010.

"Although people see the necessity to watch their spending, we still confirm a relatively positive outlook for sports-related branches on the consumers' side," Marcel Cordes, the executive director at Sport+Markt, said.

Consumers are cutting back much more in consumer electronics, mobile phones or eating out, Sport+Markt said.

Cordes added that sports spending could continue to be cushioned in 2010 if the economic situation did not get worse.