EUR0 2016 Generated $1.28bn to French Economy

The Centre for Law and Economics of Sport have released a report estimating that the French-hosted EURO 2016 tournament generated around $1.28bn for the French economy.

A total of 613,000 foreign visitors are estimated to have visited fixtures and fan zones during the month-long competition, with nearby countries England, Germany and Switzerland contributing the largest percentages of fans.

Paris are competing against Los Angeles and Budapest for the right to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with early estimates suggesting such a hosting opportunity could generate over $10bn in income.

The direct tourism impact of EURO 2016 was estimated at over $600m. Portugal defeated France in extra-time to win the tournament.