The largest industry gathering for the international sports business – ISPO Munich—will take place in just a few days. In addition to international trade visitors, many prominent athletes are expected to attend. These include Miriam Neureuther (German biathlete and cross-country skier), Britta Steffen (German swimmer), Robin Backhaus and Poul Zellmann (German swimmers), Julius Brink (German beach volleyball player), Peter Sagan (Slovak racing cyclist), Gina Lückenkemper (German track and field athlete), Nils Schumann (German track and field athlete) and Andrzej Bargiel (Polish ski mountaineer, mountaineer, and alpine runner). One of the highlights is the visit of skateboard legend Tony Hawk, who will hold a keynote address on Monday, February 4, as part of the “ISPO Digitize Pioneers Night”. An overview of all VIP visits is available online.

Award: Ole Einar Bjørndalen receives ISPO Cup 2019

Ole Einar Bjørndalen, one of the greatest athletes of our time, will be awarded the ISPO Cup on Tuesday, February 5. With eight Olympic gold medals as well as four silver and one bronze medal, he is the most successful biathlete ever at the Winter Olympics. A total of 95 World Cup victories in biathlon and cross-country skiing means that he is currently the greatest Winter athlete of all time. The ISPO Cup will honor his unique accomplishments and exceptional career.

New: Indoor Climbing Hub

Climbing has developed rapidly in recent years. Artificial climbing facilities in a variety of forms are widespread, especially in urban metropolises. The German Alpine Club has count 500 climbing halls in Germany alone—and the number is rising. In 2020, the sport will become an Olympic discipline for the first time. This is expected to draw greater attention and lead to growing interest. Under the motto “Climbing Gyms Insights,” the new Indoor Climbing Hub in hall A3 brings together various players to discuss these developments. Among other things, the program of speeches highlights the growth market in an international comparison and looks at the opportunities and challenges of the new Olympic format. More information and the program are available online.

Trend: sustainable products still in demand

A trend that has accompanied the sports and outdoor industry for many years and is becoming increasingly important in light of current developments is the manufacture of sustainable products. Many brands are already aware of their responsibilities and have incorporated a sustainable manufacturing process into their business. Experts will be talking about current developments and the urgency of this topic at the “CSR Hub & Sustainability Kiosk” in hall A4. These include representatives of non-governmental organizations such as Jon Cocino from One Percent for the Planet, Oliver Spies and Alexander Nolte from STOP! Micro Waste, Jeremy Jones from Protect our Winters, and Rainer Uhl from the Surfrider Foundation.