Media Room

11/2026

International expansion continues to gain momentum: SPORT 2000 Group International strengthens its presence in Europe

SPORT 2000 Group International is consistently pursuing its international growth strategy and expanding its network through further strategic partnerships. With new licence agreements in Ukraine and Cyprus, the retail service organisation is tapping into additional growth markets and strengthening the international reach of its retail formats. In Ukraine, two specialised concepts – SPORT 2000 and ABSOLUTE TEAMSPORT – are being established in parallel for the first time with two independent partners. At the same time, long-standing licence partner SPORT Depot is expanding its collaboration with SPORT 2000 Group International and, in addition to Bulgaria and Greece, will in future also take on the SPORT 2000 licence for Cyprus.

Two strong concepts for a market with great potential
The market entry in Ukraine underlines the strategic strength of SPORT 2000 Group International’s diversified portfolio. For the first time, two complementary retail formats – SPORT 2000 and ABSOLUTE TEAMSPORT – are being developed in parallel within a single market and specifically targeted at different segments of the specialist sports retail sector. The Savio Group is responsible for establishing the SPORT 2000 business in Ukraine. The company has been overseeing SPORT 2000’s market entry in Poland since early 2026 and operates under the name SPORT 2000 Polska. With the additional licence for Ukraine, the Savio Group is expanding its role as a strategic growth partner of SPORT 2000 Group International in Eastern Europe. “We are pursuing a gradual and sustainable market entry. Our digital presence forms the starting point for building the SPORT 2000 brand in Ukraine. In the long term, we see great potential for a nationwide network of company-owned and franchise stores, as soon as the conditions allow,” says Lena Chciuk of the Savio Group.

At the same time, SPORT 2000 Group International has secured Teamfootball as a specialised licensing partner for ABSOLUTE TEAMSPORT. The company has many years’ expertise in the football market, close ties to clubs and academies, as well as established distribution structures and digital channels. With more than 396,000 registered footballers, Ukraine ranks among Europe’s key football markets and thus offers excellent conditions for the expansion of ABSOLUTE TEAMSPORT. The starting point for this expansion is Lviv, one of the country’s most traditional and sporting football regions. “The founders and management of Teamfootball have many years’ experience in the Ukrainian sports and football market, as well as a strong network of clubs, academies and key market players. This combination of expertise, strong relationships and entrepreneurial drive creates an excellent foundation for establishing a specialised team sports concept in the market on a sustainable basis,” says Pavlo Mykoliuk, owner of Teamfootball.

SPORT Depot expands its remit to Cyprus
New growth opportunities are also emerging within the existing international network. Long-standing partner SPORT Depot is taking on the SPORT 2000 licence for Cyprus, in addition to those for Bulgaria and Greece, and will therefore be responsible for the concept in three countries in future.

With its strong sporting and outdoor culture, high appeal to tourists and year-round demand for active sports, Cyprus offers attractive conditions for SPORT 2000’s multi-category concept. The expansion of the partnership also underlines the confidence that successful licence partners have in the performance and future prospects of SPORT 2000 Group International. “Taking on the SPORT 2000 licence for Cyprus marks another milestone in our partnership with SPORT 2000 Group International. Following the successful development in Bulgaria and Greece, we also see excellent conditions in Cyprus for establishing the SPORT 2000 concept on a sustainable basis and achieving further growth,” said Nikolay Tzonov of SPORT Depot.

International formats, local business strength
The current expansion steps follow a clear strategic logic: SPORT 2000 Group International combines internationally established retail concepts with the market knowledge, entrepreneurial drive and networks of local partners. This creates high-performing platforms that are consistently tailored to the respective market requirements and enable sustainable growth.

“Our international growth agenda continues to gain momentum. For us, the focus is not on the number of new markets, but on the impact we create together with our local partners. With our broad portfolio of specialised retail formats, we have the flexibility to cater specifically to different market requirements and tap into new growth potential. It is precisely this strength that we will build on even more consistently on an international scale in the coming years,” says Margit Gosau, CEO of SPORT 2000 Group International.