Fitness Enthusiasts Flocking to Essen:
Action, News and Events at FIBO 2009 

Düsseldorf/Essen. Not until 2009 will Essen be the European Capital of Culture – but the metropolis on the Ruhr has long been the continent’s capital of fitness: for more than 20 years now, some 50,000 visitors 60 from countries 60 have come flocking to the Essen Exhibition Centre every time FIBO opened its gates. And the countdown is on again: 23 April 2009 Is the starting date of the Leading International Trade Show for Fitness, Wellness & Health. This year, it presents itself with an even more varied range of products and services: in addition to fitness, wellness and weight training themes there is a stronger focus on health themes. FIBO organisers Reed Exhibitions Deutschland expect approximately 500 exhibitors from 38 countries. This goes to show that FIBO continues to grow even in times of economic crisis. Anybody wishing to experience the international trends of the industry in one place comes to FIBO. This is the place to gain the best possible overview of what the market has to offer, as well as to make direct contact with companies and innovators.

The latest training equipment, intelligent health promotion concepts, up-to-date specialist lectures and events full of action: for both trade visitors (23 to 26 April) and private visitors (25 and 26 April) FIBO is the top meeting point for fitness, wellness and health. But not only studio operators, fitness trainers and instructors come to the show – the steady process of change in the fitness and health sector is also mirrored at FIBO which has by now become a must in the appointment calendars of physicians from diverse disciplines and physiotherapists. “An increasing number of studios cater to the demand for health-related services from their members,“ FIBO director Olaf Tomscheit reports. “And this demand from the customer side has been increasingly noticeable at the trade show over the past three years.“ As a result, FIBO meanwhile attracts a growing number of exhibitors from the health sector. For the first time this year, several health insurance providers who have discovered this as a market will present themselves at the trade show.

FIBOmed as a joint stand presents itself as the interface between the fitness industry and the medical profession. One look into the halls confirms the trend: Meanwhile almost all major manufacturers have developed their own product lines which are certified for use in rehabilitation clinics or physiotherapists practices, for instance. Says Olaf Tomscheit: “The fields of fitness and health are moving ever closer together.“

FIBO shows the most innovative products
FIBO offers the largest display of training equipment worldwide. More than 100 new products and innovations can be seen here. This year, an institution of the Leading International Trade Show for Fitness, Wellness & Health is celebrating a milestone anniversary: the “Innovation Award“ will be ten years old! Anybody interested in the latest high-quality training equipment should look for the Award seal! Stars were born here, novelties and premieres celebrated: products like “Power Plate“ (2002), “TreadClimber“ (2006) and “Cardio Wave“ (2007) started their triumphal course through fitness studios around the world with this prize. Today they are the most important equipment of their kind on the market. The winners of the last ten years will be on display for the entire duration of the trade show at the INNOVATION FORUM in Hall 7. On the second day of the show, Friday, 24 April, at 3 p.m., the 2009 winners will be the centre of attention of the expert community and the media at the Innovation Forum in Hall 7.

Even more international, with an even better structure
Right on time for FIBO the new FIBO Finder is introduced. “This will practically become the Google for the fitness industry,“ FIBO-Chef Olaf Tomscheit explains. The database is to be the biggest of its kind. The register of companies and products will offer comprehensive search functions for the fitness and health sector. A big help for finding one’s way around the trade show itself will be the new international folding plan of the halls: special innovations and how to find them will be entered here to guide interested visitors quickly to their destination. Similar to a city map, the plan offers better orientation and provides visitors with interesting additional information on equipment and individual exhibitors.

Fun and action to join in: FIBOactive in Halls 6 and 8
More exhibitors, more choice, more special action: FIBOactive, which will once more offer everything from the fields of “Fashion, Music, Fun & Action“ in 2009, has changed in appearance. Both new and established large exhibitors present a comprehensive range of products complemented by numerous action programmes and stage shows to the visitors. Zumba, a fitness trend from the USA which found enthusiastic followers in 2008, will be back this year. Experts of the dancing and fitness programme which combines Latin music with unique combinations of steps will show their skills at FIBO. Health insurance providers BKK Aktiv and BKK VOR ORT offer visitors a health test and a back check. The popular Men's Health Fitness-Check organised in cooperation with the Institute of Sports Science of Wuppertal University will be available again. A variety of fitness parameters such as coordination, agility and strength will be checked in a multi-level test.

FIBOevent with three top events
Action galore is what FIBOevent stands for – with active participation writ large. Attractions are three top events where visitors cannot merely look on but join in. Learning from top trainers is possible at the DFAV Convention: the German Fitness and Aerobics Association (Deutscher Fitness und Aerobic Verband - DFAV) invites trainers and instructors to directly experience tomorrow’s trends in the fitness and aerobics section in Hall 5. Hall 5 is also where the Nike Instructor Lounge is to be found. For the first time at FIBO the Les Mills Convention will be held in Hall 8. With the world’s biggest provider of group training and the slogan “Become a hero“, participants can prove their potential. In addition to the convention, Les Mills also presents itself with the Rainforest Lounge. For the fifth time already, the Fit for Fun Cycling Festival with its cycling marathon is staged at FIBO: More than 550 participants of all ages and training levels who want to experience the fun of cycling are expected. All the relevant information as well as the possibility to reserve one of the much-coveted places for these events can be found at www.fibo-event.de. 



For more information go to http://www.fibo.de or contact the FIBO Press Office:

Dr. Mike Seidensticker
Phone: +49 (0)211 - 90191- 128
Fax: +49 (0)211 - 90191- 138
Email: mseidensticker@reedexpo.de

Nadine Lente
Phone: +49 (0)211 - 90191- 191
Fax: +49 (0)211 - 90191- 138
Email: Nadine.Lente@reedexpo.de