Sportex ends four day run on high note

A final decision on the tie up will be made in June, when MMI holds an advisory board meeting with industry retailers, distributors and associations. However, Jurgen Lohrberg, Head of Business Unit IIb, MMI, believes the outcome is a formality.

"I have been very impressed by what I have seen. Dubai has the right infrastructure and is supportive of the sports sector. I will be making a strong recommendation that we establish a 50-50 partnership with IEC to launch the ISPO Middle East concept, in September 2003. I am sure the advisory board will look on this very positively," Lohrberg said.

"We tried to launch ISPO in the UAE in the late 80s but the Gulf War put an end to that. Now 13 years later we have revived our plans and I feel IEC, as an important trade fair organiser in the region, is the right partner for us.

"MMI has representatives in 80 countries and we will use our worldwide contacts to broaden the international exhibitor base and create a sports and fitness show that truly reflects the global nature of the industry," said Lohrberg.

The news follows four days of talks between Abdul Rehman Falaknaz, President of IEC and Lohrberg.

"By integrating MMI's international experience with our regional expertise we can create a sports and fitness exhibition that will not only fulfill the needs of a rapidly developing industry, but also reinforces Dubai's status as the Middle East's business and sports capital," said Falaknaz

"We are looking very positively at this. By utilising MMI,s extensive industry contacts we are confident we can ensure exhibitors and visitors will make the right contacts in a highly professional atmosphere, conducive to lucrative and valuable deals."

Among other changes planned for the 2003 show will be dedicated arenas for fitness products, watersports, soccer, racquet sports and sportswear.

Sportex Middle East 2002, which came to a successful conclusion Thursday, after afour day run at the Dubai World Trade Centre,
showcased the latest sports and fitness brands from 30 companies representing seven European, Middle East and Far East countries. A number of regional product launches took place at the show, including BroadcastVision,s personal entertainment consoles, Stairmaster's C40 workout console and the Schwinn Cycling programme.

Sportex 2002 had the support of the China Sporting Goods Federation, the Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry, the USA's Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, the UAE National Olympic Committee and the country's boxing, tennis, table tennis, cycling and karate associations.

"China produces 65 per cent of the world's sports goods and the Middle East is an important outlet. Our aim at Sportex was to attract distributors and agents to the China International Sporting Goods Show, to be held in September, in order to expand our regional market share, " said Luo Jie, Executive Director, China Sports Goods Federation. The organisation was making its first appearance at a Middle East trade fair.

Sportex 2002 was host to the UAE's first aerobics and fitness conference. Organised by global sports and fitness consultants Maletix, in association with IEC, the event brought together over 1,000 of the Middle East's top trainers and health club managers for seminars, interactive workshops and group fitness classes.

The exhibition also saw the inaugural Sportex Fight Night, held at the Dubai Aviation Club's tennis stadium. Over 1,250 spectators watched the five-bout event, organised by Maeltix, which included the Middle East's first World Boxing Organisation sanctioned title fight, for the Intercontinental Supermiddleweight belt.