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Information & Influence

Sports & Major Events

The capacity to take and hold the world's stage: hosting capability for the great events, sporting systems that win on it and the event diplomacy that converts spectacle into standing. One of the capabilities of Culture, Language & Education Diplomacy.

International families
19k2015 to 2024
Leading country
United States1.8× the next
All families
97khome filings included
Over five years
Falling2020 to 2024 against the five before

Year by year

Patent families by country of origin and the year of the earliest filing, 2000 to 2025; 2025 is a part year, still filling in. International families are those for which protection was sought beyond one country.

Volume

International patent families in the capability, by the year of the earliest filing.

Source: Global Institute for National Capability (GINC), 2026. Underlying patents from 107 patent offices, IFI CLAIMS and Google

Share by country

Each country's share of the year's international families, in per cent: the capability's five largest countries of origin, 2015 to 2024, and the rest of the world.

Source: Global Institute for National Capability (GINC), 2026. Underlying patents from 107 patent offices, IFI CLAIMS and Google

Country leaderboard

International patent families, 2015 to 2024, by country of origin. Growth compares the latest five full years with the five before.

Ten largest

United States

Japan

China

South Korea

Taiwan

Germany

Canada

France

United Kingdom

Italy

4,602

2,533

2,150

1,982

1,001

790

643

578

570

490

2000 to 2025
1United States4,60224.4%0.9×
16,082
2Japan2,53313.5%0.8×
6,927
3China2,15011.4%1.1×
45,100
4South Korea1,98210.5%1.1×
12,887
5Taiwan1,0015.3%0.8×
2,802
6Germany7904.2%0.8×
1,663
7Canada6433.4%0.8×
1,293
8France5783.1%0.8×
1,204
9United Kingdom5703.0%1.1×
1,110
10Italy4902.6%0.9×
1,042
11Australia4152.2%0.8×
733
12Switzerland3371.8%0.9×
482
13Spain3011.6%0.9×
492
14Austria2311.2%1.0×
326
15Finland1981.1%0.8×
247
16Netherlands1801.0%0.6×
258
17Sweden1560.8%0.9×
205
18Israel1470.8%0.9×
195
19Denmark1170.6%0.6×
136
20India1110.6%1.1×
145
21Russia1090.6%0.7×
761
22Brazil900.5%0.8×
356
23Türkiye870.5%1.9×
202
24Norway870.5%0.9×
117
25Ireland650.3%0.8×
99
26Belgium620.3%1.1×
91
27Poland610.3%1.1×
379
28New Zealand590.3%1.5×
81
29Hong Kong510.3%0.8×
95
30Czechia510.3%1.6×
88
31Singapore500.3%1.6×
67
32South Africa500.3%1.1×
55
33Mexico330.2%0.9×
85
34Portugal240.1%1.4×
45
35Hungary240.1%0.6×
63
36Luxembourg130.1%0.3×
20
37Saudi Arabia50.0%1.5×
17
38Cayman Islands50.0%0.0×
6
39Malaysia50.0%0.3×
16
40Liechtenstein20.0%1.0×
4

Applicants

The largest applicants by international patent families, 2015 to 2024: across the world, then within each of the five countries with the most families in Sports & Major Events. Names are as held in the source and are not consolidated across subsidiaries.

Global

18,830 international families

SUMITOMO RUBBER IND · Japan

BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO LTD · Japan

SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD · South Korea

KARSTEN MFG CORP · United States

DUNLOP SPORTS CO LTD · Japan

TOYOTA MOTOR CORP · Japan

462

254

225

179

137

137

United States

4,602 international families

KARSTEN MFG CORP

ACUSHNET CO

NIKE INNOVATE CV

NIKE INC

APPLE INC

IFIT INC

179

116

105

103

45

39

Japan

2,533 international families

SUMITOMO RUBBER IND

BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO LTD

DUNLOP SPORTS CO LTD

TOYOTA MOTOR CORP

TOYOTA MOTOR CO LTD

SEIKO EPSON CORP

462

254

137

137

133

114

China

2,150 international families

HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

SHENZHEN ESMARTGYM SCIENCE AND TECH CO LTD

BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD

CHENGDU FIT FUTURE TECH CO LTD

ZHANG YANG

LE HOLDINGS BEIJING CO LTD

52

45

27

22

22

15

South Korea

1,982 international families

SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

GOLFZON CO LTD

LG ELECTRONICS INC

SGM CO LTD

DRAX INC

PHOENIXDARTS CO LTD

224

78

72

44

37

30

Taiwan

1,001 international families

ADVANCED INTERNATIONAL MULTITECH CO LTD

REXON IND CORP LTD

FUSHENG PREC CO LTD

ADVANCED INT MULTITECH CO LTD

DYACO INT INC

QBAS CO LTD

32

31

30

29

29

24

Similar capabilities

The nine capabilities that share the most international patent families with Sports & Major Events, 2015 to 2024: the families counted in both as a share of those counted in either. Each card shows its five largest countries.

Strategic Infrastructure

Education & Skills Infrastructure

3.1% shared · 966 families in both

United States

Japan

China

South Korea

Germany

3,247

2,198

1,763

1,499

503

Strategic Infrastructure

Cultural, Community & Recreational Infrastructure

3.0% shared · 599 families in both

United States

Germany

China

United Kingdom

Netherlands

331

190

115

71

66

Information & Influence

Creative Industries & Cultural Export Reach

1.9% shared · 983 families in both

Japan

United States

China

South Korea

Taiwan

9,492

7,019

6,834

3,079

1,031

Production & Innovation

Services Economy

1.6% shared · 1,609 families in both

United States

Japan

South Korea

China

Germany

24,048

16,321

11,491

8,566

3,398

Strategic Infrastructure

Health Infrastructure

1.5% shared · 1,490 families in both

United States

Japan

China

South Korea

Germany

24,406

13,906

7,434

6,894

5,818

Human Capital

Service Delivery & Coverage

1.2% shared · 3,448 families in both

United States

Japan

China

South Korea

Germany

84,023

38,520

26,886

18,896

17,937

Governance & Integrity

Civil Protection & Emergency Management

1.0% shared · 347 families in both

United States

South Korea

China

Germany

Japan

3,773

1,821

1,687

1,350

1,052

Human Capital

Foundational Learning

1.0% shared · 238 families in both

United States

China

Japan

South Korea

Taiwan

1,468

1,054

1,039

901

207

Critical Technology

Human-Machine Interfaces

0.9% shared · 622 families in both

United States

Japan

China

South Korea

Germany

14,516

9,319

7,249

6,474

2,639

Crosswalk

How Sports & Major Events is matched to the patent classifications. The entries below were chosen for it; each stands for itself and everything beneath it in the scheme, 1,638 Cooperative entries in all. A patent family counts when any of its codes, in either scheme and at any office, falls under one of them. Codes since retired are placed under the entries that replaced them.

EntryTitle in the schemeWhy it is chosenCPC codesIPC codesDocuments
A63BApparatus for physical training, gymnastics, swimming, climbing, or fencing; ball games; training equipmentSports, exercise and training equipment1,6283762,569,501
A63CSkates; skis; roller skates; design or layout of courts, rinks or the likeSkates, skis and layout of courts and rinks314135257,221
A63KRacing; riding sports; equipment or accessories thereforRacing and riding sports equipment1276,537
E04H3/12Tribunes, grandstands or terraces for spectatorsGrandstands and spectator terraces315,570
E04H3/14Gymnasiums; Other sporting buildingsGymnasiums and other sports buildings626,139
G07C1/22Registering, indicating or recording the time of events or elapsed time, e.g. time-recorders for work people in connection with sports or gamesTiming of sports events445,210

CPC and IPC codes are the codes in use on patent documents, at any office, that fall under the entry. Documents is the larger of the two schemes' counts of documents carrying one of them. An entry with no IPC codes can be told apart only in the Cooperative scheme.

The Cooperative codes in use that count towards Sports & Major Events: 1,967 codes on 2,843,731 documents. The 150 most used are listed; the full list is in the cpc-to-capability.csv download.

CodeTitleUnder entryHow placedDocuments
A63B71/0622Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the userA63BIn the scheme32,472
A63B2225/50Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetryA63BIn the scheme27,596
A63B2209/00Characteristics of used materialsA63BIn the scheme26,390
A63B2210/50Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transportA63BIn the scheme24,566
A63B24/0062Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distanceA63BIn the scheme23,361
A63B2225/09Adjustable dimensionsA63BIn the scheme21,255
A63B21/4035Handles, pedals, bars or platforms for operation by handA63BIn the scheme19,747
A63B53/0466Heads wood-typeA63BIn the scheme18,281
A63B24/0087Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling loadA63BIn the scheme18,217
A63B60/00Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the likeA63BIn the scheme18,066
A63B2102/32GolfA63BIn the scheme15,939
A63B2225/093HeightA63BIn the scheme15,674
A63B53/04HeadsA63BIn the scheme15,533
A63B22/0605Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements with support elements performing a rotating cycling movement, i.e. a closed path movement performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometersA63BIn the scheme15,381
A63B2220/833Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implementA63BIn the scheme15,274
A63B2220/40AccelerationA63BIn the scheme14,416
A63B2071/0694Visual indication, e.g. IndiciaA63BIn the scheme14,388
A63B2208/12Characteristics or parameters related to the user or player specially adapted for childrenA63BIn the scheme14,196
A63B53/0408Heads characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thicknessA63BIn the scheme14,157
A63B2225/20Miscellaneous features of sport apparatus, devices or equipment with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the likeA63BIn the scheme13,760
A63B53/0433Heads with special sole configurationsA63BIn the scheme13,739
A63B2071/0625Emitting sound, noise or musicA63BIn the scheme13,455
A63B2209/10Characteristics of used materials with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastenerA63BIn the scheme13,215
A63B53/047Heads iron-typeA63BIn the scheme12,781
A63B21/0552Elastic ropes or bandsA63BIn the scheme12,625
A63B71/06Indicating or scoring devices for games or players, or for other sports activitiesA63BIn the scheme12,476
A63B23/12Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body for limbs, i.e. upper or lower limbs, e.g. simultaneously for upper limbs or related muscles, e.g. chest, upper back or shoulder musclesA63BIn the scheme12,423
A63B37/0003Golf ballsA63BIn the scheme12,343
A63B2220/806Video camerasA63BIn the scheme12,154
A63B71/0619Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmillsA63BIn the scheme11,847
A63B2220/30SpeedA63BIn the scheme11,543
A63B2053/0491Heads with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceableA63BIn the scheme11,432
A63B60/54Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like with means for damping vibrationsA63BIn the scheme11,022
A63B24/0075Means for generating exercise programmes or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databasesA63BIn the scheme10,945
A63B22/02Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements with movable endless bands, e.g. treadmillsA63BIn the scheme10,645
A63B21/00069Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valveA63BIn the scheme10,230
A63B53/0416Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insertA63BIn the scheme10,158
A63B24/0021Tracking a path or terminating locationsA63BIn the scheme10,148
A63B23/04Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body for limbs, i.e. upper or lower limbs, e.g. simultaneously for lower limbsA63BIn the scheme9,847
A63B2220/51ForceA63BIn the scheme9,569
A63B2209/02Characteristics of used materials with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibresA63BIn the scheme9,465
A63B2220/803Motion sensorsA63BIn the scheme9,443
A63B2220/17Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speedA63BIn the scheme9,243
A63B21/4047Pivoting movementA63BIn the scheme9,012
A63B60/02Ballast means for adjusting the centre of massA63BIn the scheme8,882
A63B2208/0204Standing on the feetA63BIn the scheme8,628
A63B53/0487Heads for puttersA63BIn the scheme8,604
A63B21/023Wound springsA63BIn the scheme8,428
A63B21/154Using flexible elements for reciprocating movements, e.g. ropes or chains using special pulley-assembliesA63BIn the scheme8,358
A63B2225/74Miscellaneous features of sport apparatus, devices or equipment with powered illuminating means, e.g. lightsA63BIn the scheme8,332
A63B2220/20Distances or displacementsA63BIn the scheme8,272
A63B24/00Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performancesA63BIn the scheme8,263
A63B2230/06Measuring physiological parameters of the user heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations heartbeat rate onlyA63BIn the scheme8,230
A63B2220/805Optical or opto-electronic sensorsA63BIn the scheme8,224
A63B2220/836Sensors arranged on the body of the userA63BIn the scheme8,073
A63B69/36Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for golfA63BIn the scheme8,007
A63B60/08Handles characterised by the materialA63BIn the scheme7,916
A63B24/0006Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movementA63BIn the scheme7,893
A63B2209/08Characteristics of used materials magneticA63BIn the scheme7,641
A63B24/0003Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennisA63BIn the scheme7,601
A63B2024/0093Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speedA63BIn the scheme7,570
A63B21/0628User-manipulated weights including guide for vertical or non-vertical weights or array of weights to move against gravity forces with substantially vertical guiding means for vertical array of weightsA63BIn the scheme7,333
A63B53/0437Heads with special crown configurationsA63BIn the scheme7,250
A63B23/1209Involving a bending of elbow and shoulder joints simultaneouslyA63BIn the scheme7,245
A63B71/0054Features for injury prevention on an apparatus, e.g. shock absorbersA63BIn the scheme7,244
A63B2220/56PressureA63BIn the scheme7,232
A63B2208/0233Sitting on the buttocks in 90/90 position, like on a chairA63BIn the scheme7,071
A63B21/0058Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices using electromagnetic or electric force-resisters using motorsA63BIn the scheme7,018
A63B37/0075Three piece balls, i.e. cover, intermediate layer and coreA63BIn the scheme6,930
A63B21/0442Anchored at one end only, the other end being manipulated by the userA63BIn the scheme6,920
A63B2220/13Relative positionsA63BIn the scheme6,890
A63B23/0211Abdomen moving torso with immobilized lower limbsA63BIn the scheme6,807
A63B2220/12Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPSA63BIn the scheme6,736
A63B21/225Resisting devices with rotary bodies with flywheelsA63BIn the scheme6,684
A63B21/068User-manipulated weights using user's body weightA63BIn the scheme6,680
A63B69/00Training appliances or apparatus for special sportsA63BIn the scheme6,595
A63B60/10Handles with means for indicating correct holding positionsA63BIn the scheme6,593
A63B21/00181Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices comprising additional means assisting the user to overcome part of the resisting force, i.e. assisted-active exercisingA63BIn the scheme6,545
A63B2024/0068Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individualsA63BIn the scheme6,541
A63B21/0004Exercising devices moving as a whole during exerciseA63BIn the scheme6,530
A63B21/4043Free movement, i.e. the only restriction coming from the resistanceA63BIn the scheme6,527
A63B37/0031HardnessA63BIn the scheme6,329
A63B21/0557Details of attachments, e.g. clips or clampsA63BIn the scheme6,324
A63B53/14HandlesA63BIn the scheme6,246
A63B53/02Joint structures between the head and the shaftA63BIn the scheme6,242
A63B21/4034Handles, pedals, bars or platforms for operation by feetA63BIn the scheme6,217
A63B45/00Apparatus or methods for manufacturing ballsA63BIn the scheme6,160
A63B2102/18Baseball, rounders or similar gamesA63BIn the scheme6,154
A63B37/0076Multi-piece balls, i.e. having two or more intermediate layersA63BIn the scheme6,151
A63B23/16Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body for limbs, i.e. upper or lower limbs, e.g. simultaneously for upper limbs or related muscles, e.g. chest, upper back or shoulder muscles for hands or fingersA63BIn the scheme5,978
A63B60/06HandlesA63BIn the scheme5,962
A63B2243/0025FootballA63BIn the scheme5,922
A63B23/03525Supports for both feet or both hands performing simultaneously the same movement, e.g. single pedal or single handleA63BIn the scheme5,872
A63B71/0605Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitrationA63BIn the scheme5,854
A63B60/52Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like with slitsA63BIn the scheme5,796
A63B71/0669Score-keepers or score display devicesA63BIn the scheme5,731
A63B2220/62Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signalA63BIn the scheme5,721
A63B63/00Targets or goals for ball gamesA63BIn the scheme5,720
A63B22/0664Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements with support elements performing a rotating cycling movement, i.e. a closed path movement performing an elliptic movementA63BIn the scheme5,657
A63B37/0064DiameterA63BIn the scheme5,654
A63B21/055Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices using resilient force-resisters extension element typeA63BIn the scheme5,606
A63B37/0033ThicknessA63BIn the scheme5,560
A63B2071/065Visualisation of specific exercise parametersA63BIn the scheme5,537
A63B2071/0655Tactile feedbackA63BIn the scheme5,536
A63B21/00065Mechanical means for varying the resistance by increasing or reducing the number of resistance unitsA63BIn the scheme5,486
A63B53/0458Heads with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plateA63BIn the scheme5,386
A63C9/005Ski bindings with means for adjusting the position of a shoe holder or of the complete binding relative to the skiA63CIn the scheme5,319
A63B2220/16Angular positionsA63BIn the scheme5,303
A63B23/03541Moving independently from each otherA63BIn the scheme5,288
A63B53/0412VolumeA63BIn the scheme5,264
A63B69/0002Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for baseballA63BIn the scheme5,228
A63B71/0036Accessories for stowing, putting away or transporting exercise apparatus or sports equipmentA63BIn the scheme5,168
A63B26/003Exercising apparatus not covered by groups A63B1/00 - A63B25/00 for improving balance or equilibriumA63BIn the scheme5,034
A63B2071/0638Displaying moving images of recorded environment, e.g. virtual environmentA63BIn the scheme5,033
A63B21/06User-manipulated weightsA63BIn the scheme5,024
A63B69/3632Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligningA63BIn the scheme5,015
A63B37/0074Two piece balls, i.e. cover and coreA63BIn the scheme4,988
A63B23/0405Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body for limbs, i.e. upper or lower limbs, e.g. simultaneously for lower limbs involving a bending of the knee and hip joints simultaneouslyA63BIn the scheme4,911
A63C9/0805Adjustment of the toe or heel holders; Indicators thereforA63CIn the scheme4,900
A63B22/001Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements involving an exercising of arms by simultaneously exercising arms and legs, e.g. diagonally in anti-phaseA63BIn the scheme4,887
A63B22/0023Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements with an adjustable movement path of the support elements the inclination of the main axis of the movement path being adjustable, e.g. the inclination of an endless bandA63BIn the scheme4,880
A63B21/4033Handles, pedals, bars or platformsA63BIn the scheme4,851
A63B23/18Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body for improving respiratory functionA63BIn the scheme4,831
A63B60/42Devices for measuring, verifying, correcting or customising the inherent characteristics of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like, e.g. measuring the maximum torque a batting shaft can withstandA63BIn the scheme4,790
A63B71/0686Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic meansA63BIn the scheme4,762
A63B2209/023Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, matsA63BIn the scheme4,761
A63B2220/80Special sensors, transducers or devices thereforA63BIn the scheme4,757
A63B2102/02TennisA63BIn the scheme4,731
A63B2220/10PositionsA63BIn the scheme4,731
A63B2071/063Spoken or verbal instructionsA63BIn the scheme4,640
A63C17/06Roller skates; Skate-boards with wheels arranged otherwise than in two pairs single-track typeA63CIn the scheme4,632
A63C9/0846Details of the release or step-in mechanismA63CIn the scheme4,617
A63C17/01SkateboardsA63CIn the scheme4,616
A63B69/002Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for footballA63BIn the scheme4,603
A63B21/015Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices using frictional force-resisters including rotating or oscillating elements rubbing against fixed elementsA63BIn the scheme4,592
A63B49/08Frames with special construction of the handleA63BIn the scheme4,572
A63B37/0043HardnessA63BIn the scheme4,558
A63B37/0045ThicknessA63BIn the scheme4,541
A63B23/03508For a single arm or legA63BIn the scheme4,501
A63B21/072Dumb-bells, bar-bells or the like, e.g. weight discs having an integral peripheral handleA63BIn the scheme4,495
A63B21/00178Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices for active exercising, the apparatus being also usable for passive exercisingA63BIn the scheme4,466
A63B2071/025Supports, e.g. poles on rollers or wheelsA63BIn the scheme4,431
A63B21/0724Bar-bells; Hand barsA63BIn the scheme4,424
A63B21/4045Reciprocating movement along, in or on a guideA63BIn the scheme4,394
A63C9/086Ski bindings yieldable or self-releasing in the event of an accident, i.e. safety bindings using parts which are fixed on the shoe of the user and are releasable from the ski bindingA63CIn the scheme4,387
A63B60/14Coverings specially adapted for handles, e.g. sleeves or ribbonsA63BIn the scheme4,374
A63B22/0235Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements with movable endless bands, e.g. treadmills driven by a motorA63BIn the scheme4,368
A63B71/023Supports, e.g. polesA63BIn the scheme4,353
A63B22/16Platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis, e.g. axis through the middle of the platform; Balancing drums; Balancing boards or the likeA63BIn the scheme4,352
A63B2220/34Angular speedA63BIn the scheme4,352
Match: Through its tools
The classification names the equipment or technology the capability draws on, not the capability. The count says how much is being invented for it, not how well it is done. Captures sports equipment and venues, much of it for home fitness and recreation; hosting and elite performance are not captured. The crosswalk is a first pass that nobody has reviewed.

Other capabilities in Culture, Language & Education Diplomacy