About 80,000 visitors from all parts of the world flocked to ISPO Munich to gain inspiration from the latest sports innovations, trends and products that were showcased in Messe München’s 18 halls.
Sustainability has become even more important. This commitment to the environment demonstrated that ISPO Munich has become much more than a pure product show: It is a network that fuels partnerships and initiatives.
“The world is going through sweeping social changes,” says Chairman and CEO of Messe München Klaus Dittrich. “Developments like climate change, globalization and polarization in our societies are so far-reaching that they trigger global discussions. We must find solutions to these problems before it is too late.”
The sporting goods industry understands its responsibility and focuses more than ever before on sustainably manufactured products and on a circular economy, something that encompasses a product’s entire life cycle. Product ideas ranged from a jacket made of plastic fished out of the world’s seas to vegan running shoes. But today’s consumers want something more than sustainable products. They also expect companies to increasingly practice a philosophy of purpose.
“Platforms like ISPO Munich play a key role in launching initiatives and partnerships and raising awareness levels about the need to sustainably use our planet’s resources,” says Mark Held, President of the European Outdoor Group (EOG). “We set up a new format designed to facilitate a discourse about important issues and to place it onto a stage for society to see – the ISPO SDG Summit. The integrative power of sports can help to build bridges and overcome hurdles,” says Dittrich.
The summit will take place for the first time on June 29, 2020, in Munich parallel to OutDoor by ISPO. Its objective is to develop solutions and joint projects that promote the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Around 80,000 visitors from 120 countries came to Munich (80,200 in 2019). The largest number of visitors were from Germany, followed by Italy, Austria, France, Switzerland, Great Britain and the Russian Federation. The ratio of visitors from outside Germany rose to 70% from 69% in 2019. Visitors increased from France, Japan, Korea and New Zealand.
According to a survey carried out by market research company Gelszus Messe-Marktforschung among visitors, 45% of the respondents believed that ISPO Munich would continue to play an increasingly important role.
ISPO Munich Exhibitors numbered 2,850, as compared with 2,926 in 2019. For the first time, Toyota joined traditional sporting goods and outdoor brands at ISPO Munich, and introduced its mobility concept to the international audience.
The next ISPO Munich will be held from January 28th to 31st, 2021.
