Sport is just as economically relevant a topic as medicine or construction technology. Nowadays, an entire industry deals with exercise in the broadest sense: from sportswear to sports equipment, sporting trips or health advice to sport itself. And of course there are also various meetings and conferences on the subject. Munich is a particularly good destination for all these events. After all, there is not only a good infrastructure here with exhibition halls, hotels and gastronomy, but also a particularly suitable sporting environment with suitable sports venues such as the Olympic Park or the Allianz Arena and the mountains at the gates of the city.
The all-important sporting event in Munich this year is the European Championships. 50 years after the Olympic Games, a major sporting event will once again take place, bringing together athletes from the most important Olympic sports to compete: Track and Field, Beach Volleyball, Canoeing, Rowing, Cycling, Gymnastics, Triathlon, Sport Climbing and Table Tennis. The Olympic sports facilities that still exist today will be used for this purpose. Munich will welcome around 4,700 athletes to this sporting event.
One of the most important trade fairs for all aspects of sports and outdoor activities is the "Outdoor by ISPO" in Munich. Every year, the international sports and outdoor industry meets here for Europe's largest trade fair in this sector. The focus is on topics such as health, nature, mobility, urbanity and sustainability. Questions such as "What is the significance of the outdoor lifestyle for society?" or "How do consumers define and experience the term 'outdoor'?" are addressed at live events and by means of interactive, digital offerings. Socially relevant topics, trends and developments that also go beyond the industry will be discussed.
In addition, numerous manufacturers of a wide variety of sports and outdoor products will of course be presenting themselves at the fair. With over 2.2 billion euros and a growth rate of 14 percent, the German-speaking region is the strongest sales region for the outdoor industry. The record figures for the industry were reported by the European Outdoor Group (EOG), the exclusive, conceptual sponsor of OutDoor by ISPO, at the trade fair.
Around two thirds of the guests and 70 percent of the exhibitors came from the international sector. Among others, dealers, buyers and brand representatives from 70 countries were represented, including European core markets such as France, Italy, Austria and Switzerland as well as the USA, Canada and Asia. This year, the 8,000 trade visitors met for the first time at the Munich Order Center, the MOC.
Action sports events are also a perfect fit for Munich. The surf scene that has developed over the years on the Eisbach in the English Garden is the best example of this. In June, the popular action sports festival MASH took place in the Olympic Park for the seventh time. The top stars of the scene attended the skateboarding, wakeboarding and BMX events and provided the spectators with exciting competitions and some scenes that got the adrenalin pumping.
The supporting programme attracted visitors with numerous concerts and arts and crafts stands. Around 70,000 spectators celebrated the athletes, attended the concerts and thus contributed to the economic success of the event for Munich. "The enthusiasm and atmosphere of the fans at the international first-class contests, the many visitors of all ages who strolled through the MASH Fest - it was simply wonderful. It shows what a gift Munich received 50 years ago with this park," said Olympic Park director Marion Schöne about the festival.
The München Yoga Conference, which will take place in 2022 at the beginning of November, or the YogaWorld participatory trade fair (June 2022) are about a much calmer kind of movement. For several years now, yoga has been much more than a relaxation practice of gurus from India.
An entire, steadily growing industry revolves around the downward-looking dog, the cobra and the warrior: clothing, equipment, nutrition, courses, coaching and much more. At the various yoga events, not only are different yoga styles practised and meditated on. There are also lectures on topics such as happiness, nutrition or yoga training.
