ISPO Young Talents 2024: The future starts now!

• Two days full of innovation, inspiration and networking
• Climate protection initiative Protect our Winters
• Exciting workshops from Blackroll, MTS/Schildkröt and Patagonia
• ISPO Young Talents 2024 - A cornerstone for the future of the sports industry
• FEDAS: The European Federation of Sports Retailers

The program is free of charge for the participating Young Talents, but provides priceless knowledge, inspiration, new ideas and valuable insights. The program started with a welcome and introduction by Stefan Herzog, President of FEDAS and Carsten Schürg, Head of Media Relations & Communication at ISPO.

The program also offered a joint breakfast, the opportunity to participate in the FEDAS get-together followed by lunch, the ISPO party and a guided tour of the Sustainability Hub. The joint activities offered an ideal opportunity to network with other talents - in line with this year's slogan "LOVE EVERY CONTACT". Aylin (19) from Switzerland agrees: "The exchange with young talents from other countries showed me how important joint action is."

The Talents also had the opportunity to explore the exciting theme hubs, exhibitor stands and panel talks at ISPO Munich on their own. At the end of the program, everyone received a certificate from FEDAS.

As part of the exclusive and varied program, the participants gained in-depth insights into the sports industry over the course of two days and laid the foundations for promising career opportunities. They had the opportunity to learn about the latest sustainability trends that will shape the industry and discover innovative start-ups and inspiring brands. Nadja (22) from Switzerland confirms this: "Although I know a lot of sports brands, I was able to get to know new brands at ISPO Munich."

Current sustainability trends were also a hot topic in the program. Participants learned about the innovations that are making the sports industry ever greener. This also included exciting workshops and inspiring keynotes, including from tennis legend Andre Agassi. The program also gave them the opportunity to network with like-minded people and discover interesting training and job opportunities.

The initiative focuses on responsible behavior in winter sports. True to the slogan "Protect What We Love". In the workshop of the Protect our Winters initiative, POW for short, participants were sensitized to climate protection. They learned about the effects of climate change, the responsibility of the sports and outdoor industry and how they can work together to have a positive impact on the environment.

Of course, practical examples of more sustainable action on a local and global level were also included. Whether it's sustainable product decisions or energy-efficient business models. And it is not absolutely necessary to be a decision-maker. Everyone can make a valuable contribution: by becoming an ambassador for climate protection. Aylin (19) from Switzerland confirms: "POW has motivated me to do more for climate protection - both professionally and privately."

In addition to the POW workshop, there were also practical program points from three other exciting companies. Blackroll taught the participants how fascia training can be used specifically to prevent injuries, while also providing an introduction to modern regeneration techniques and sustainable product development. This gave the Young Talents the opportunity to get to know the versatile applications of the products and their benefits.

MTS/Schildkröt provided practical insights into its supply chains - starting with sustainable product development, through procurement and production, to sales and marketing. The focus: transparent processes and environmental awareness. For example, the company replaces plastic packaging with FSC-certified wood.

In three short interactive presentations, Patagonia provided an in-depth look at the topic of repairing and caring for clothing to extend its lifespan. True to the slogan "Repair & Care". The company provided inspiration with concepts for the circular economy and showed how sustainability can be integrated into retail. Nadja (22) from Switzerland was also enthusiastic: "I learned new things from various brands, such as the fact that Patagonia has a twelve-year guarantee - that's amazing!".

The initiative aims to demonstrate practical knowledge, innovative ideas and sustainability approaches that can shape the future of sports retail. This was impressively successful, as can be seen from the positive feedback from the young talents, who reported enthusiastically about the new perspectives and the international exchange. With insights into forward-looking topics and the promotion of active involvement, the next generation was motivated to play an active role in shaping the industry. After all, it is only through the fresh ideas and energy of the young talents that sustainable and successful development of the industry can be achieved.