ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY OF MASS SPORTS PROGRAMS: BUDGET COSTS VS SOCIAL EFFECT

In the context of rapidly growing healthcare costs and an increase in the number of chronic diseases in society, mass sports programs are becoming a tool not only for improving the health of the population, but also for optimizing budget spending. This article is devoted to the analysis of the economic efficiency of public investment in the field of mass physical culture. Direct budget costs are compared with social and economic effects, including a decrease in the burden on the medical system, an increase in the level of physical activity and increased social integration. Based on the assessment of the return on investment (ROI, SROI), the high profitability of investments in mass sports is substantiated, especially in the long term. The presented conclusions can serve as a basis for the formation of a more balanced state policy in the field of physical culture and health care.