The synergy between related sectors was a winner, offering companies, operators, stakeholders, and institutions an integrated and innovative vision for a strategic development of the different leisure souls: swimming pools and spas, fitness, wellness, sports, and outdoor design. Great attention from operators for Minister Abodi's speech.

Bologna, 21 February - The event that has been able to put at the centre of its exhibition and congress proposal many different forms and types of the leisure universe and that has united, in an unprecedented format, ForumPiscine, the 15th International Pool and Spa Exhibition, Outex - Outdoor & Leisure Experience, and the 25th ForumClub, the B2B event for operators and companies in the fitness, wellness and sports sector, closes with more than 8,000 visitors and much satisfaction. A winning and well-integrated match that has allowed the event to grow and broaden its horizons: three days of ideas, challenges and opportunities to explore and embrace the multiform dimension of wellness and leisure.

An exhibition area that attracted the attention of professionals, companies and an interested public, arriving from Italy and abroad, to discover products, novelties and the latest trends, and to come into contact with buyers and operators from the various sectors involved. Full satisfaction also for the 3 experiential installations - The Swimming Pool in the Landscape, Outdoor Wellness and Outdoor Leisure - conceived in collaboration with associations, designers and partnering companies, for an immersive and stimulating foray into the field of urban regeneration, architecture and furnishing for outdoor spaces and open-air leisure equipment.  

Halls 25 and 26 of BolognaFiere and the halls of the adjacent Service Centre hosted a rich conference programme - about 100 meetings were scheduled - capable of getting the interest of operators, companies and institutions: during the three days of the event, sessions of the ForumClub International Congress, conferences and workshops of ForumPiscine and Outex, and 45 live shows by companies were offered.

BOLOGNA: THE AGENDA FOR LEISURE AND SPORT. THE POINT WITH MINISTER ABODI

Innovation and digital systems, energy consumption and sustainability, new regulations, reform of sport and sports work: these were some of the topics at the centre of the debate that gave voice to the main demands and priorities for professionals, organisations and companies.

During the round table 'The future of sport and sports work', the Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi, was called upon to comment on the state of the sector after the Reform came into force: 'We are trying to find a balance between employers and workers in the world of sport, and opportunities for discussion such as these are useful for us to focus on the concerns and difficulties that sports clubs and associations encounter in the daily management of facilities. With regard to facility concessions, we have initiated an internal technical round table at the Ministry, with the aim of making their social nature prevail, in the knowledge that these facilities constitute a safeguard that cannot be subjected to the logic of state aid. We must build the future model on sustainability and the recognition of workers' rights. In this scenario, it is my intention to propose to the Government and Parliament by 2024 an idea for the overall (re)organisation of the sports system, which does not traumatise it, but rather makes it evolve'. The debate, moderated by Marco Sublimi, Consultant for the management of sports facilities and swimming pools and member of the Technical-Scientific Committee of ForumPiscine, was attended by the President of the Legislative Assembly of Emilia-Romagna, Emma Petitti, and the Councillor for Sport of the Municipality of Bologna, Roberta Li Calzi.

Confirming the key role of the event, the Secretary General of FIN, Antonello Panza, also wished to speak (via videoconference) on the Sports Reform and safety in sports work, despite his commitment in Doha for the New World Championships.

There was much interest in the speeches by Francesco Vaia, Director General for Health Prevention at the Ministry of Health, who offered his own contribution on the necessary promotion of physical activity within the framework of the round table on innovation, diversification and sustainability for sports facilities; Stefano Gobbi, Head of the Social Projects and Third Sector Area of the Sport in the Territories Directorate of Sport and Health, and Fabio Pagliara, President of the Sport City Foundation, MSA and FF Sports Consulting, who spoke to take stock of the need to invest in sport and physical activity, qualifying urban open-air spaces and green areas. A growing trend that sees the rediscovery of the open-air concept as a natural (and sustainable) context for wellness, physical activity, play and leisure.

The presentation of the first "National Report on the energy and water consumption of swimming facilities", produced in collaboration with FIRE and CoNGePi, a preview of the measure that will replace the 2003 State-Regions Agreement, by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, and an in-depth examination of the new UNI 10637 standard, commented on for the first time since its publication by UNI - Ente Italiano di Normazione, and the two trade associations, Acquanet and Assopiscine, are not to be missed by anyone involved in the sector.

Among the most engaging sessions of the 25th ForumClub International Congress, aimed at owners, managers and professionals of gyms, fitness, wellness and sports centres, were the general sessions with Giuseppe Pasceri, CEO of Subito.it, and Massimiliano Freddi, first vice-president of IAAPA, the world association of parks and attractions, as well as contributions from big names from abroad: from Portugal, José Teixeira, and from the United Kingdom, Adrian Marks.

"A strategic and synergic platform for the leisure community, the marriage of the three events has proved to be successful and profitable, especially in a context in which there is growing attention to the management of one's free time, awareness of the importance of adopting healthy lifestyles, marked by wellness and physical exercise, and comfort, and in which we are witnessing a progressive hybridisation of places: those dedicated to wellness and training intersect with others intended for rest or entertainment, in an unprecedented mixture of indoor and outdoor spaces, where the latter are increasingly experienced as areas for relaxation, well-being or as open-air gyms. It is in this vision of the future, more near than ever, that ForumPiscine, Outex and ForumClub, give you an appointment for 2025, naturally in an XL version," conclude Federico A. and Roberto Maestrami of Editrice Il Campo, organizers of ForumPiscine, Outex and ForumClub.

SPONSORS AND PATRONAGE

Numerous bodies and associations sponsored the event, organised in collaboration with BolognaFiere, FIRE- Italian Federation for the rational use of energy, International Pool & Spa Press Alliance, Studio Apostoli and architect Massimo Semola: AcquaNet, Associazione Piscine; AIAPP, Associazione Italiana di Architettura del Paesaggio; ANIF-Eurowellness; Assopiscine, Associazione Italiana Piscine e Wellness; CIWAS, Confederazione Italiana Wellness e attività sportive; Congepi, Confederazione Nazionale Gestori Piscine; FAITA-Federcamping; FIN-Federazione Italiana Nuoto; FoRST, Fondazione per la Ricerca Scientifica Termale; Foro Italico University of Rome; Parchi Permanenti Italiani, Unpisi, Tecnici della prevenzione dell'ambiente e nei luoghi di lavoro; Uni, Ente italiano di normazione, as well as the Emilia-Romagna Regional Authorities and the Metropolitan City of Bologna. 
Acquaclear, Hayward, Henoto, Italian Pool, Matrix, Siligroup and Technogym were top sponsors of the event; Aqquatix, Griffon, Imago, Inpool, Life Fitness, NewPool, Polimpianti, Renolit, Rex and Soprema participated as sponsor.

Piscina nel Paesaggio, designed in collaboration with AIAPP and architect Massimo Semola. Technical sponsors: Arte Cemento Chinelli, Fanani Tende, Henoto, Led Italy, Mirco Bonfatti Vivai, New Pool, Roche Bobois, Santafiora.

Outdoor Wellness, designed in collaboration with Studio Apostoli. Technical sponsors: Albatros, Aquaform, Atlas Concorde, Corradi, Kreoo/Decormarmi, Fast, Felli, Henoto, GioWellness, Lip Lighting, Nilo Spa Design, Oase Italia, Sab Green, Oikos, Plust Collection a brand of Europlast3project, Roofingreen, Schlüter System, Talenti, Tece, TechnoAlpin, Technogym, Tecnografica, Tessuti & Tendaggi Contract, Verde Profilo.

Outdoor Leisure, technical sponsors: Freetness Italia, Henoto Led Italy, Macagi, Non Solo Arredo.
 

     
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