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PanStadia & Arena Management and Stadia & Arena Events look forward to meeting you at FSB in Cologne in October. Both the magazine and event will exhibit at the event in Hall 10.2, stand A051a. PanStadia & Arena Management is also an Official Media Partner of FSB 2015.

FSB, which is being staged in Cologne from 27 to 30 October 2015, is presenting itself as sustainable, green, playful, attractive and more successful than ever. Around 650 companies from over 45 countries, who will showcase their products and services on an area of 80,000 square meters are expected. As usual, they include the leading national and international industry players from the amenity areas, sports and pools facilities.

FSB hosts the IAKS conference and awards.

The trade visitors can look forward to a new tone-setting innovation in October. Once again, FSB will take place parallel to aquanale, the International Trade Fair for Sauna, Pool, Ambience, this year for the first time in the modern North Halls of Koelnmesse – to be more precise in Halls 6, 7, 9 and 10.2 of the Cologne fair grounds. With its thematic hall layout, both of the events are offering a clearer overview and an expanded range of products. The synergies, particularly in the swimming pool sector will thus be ideally exploited and interlinked. Decision-makers, operators, architects, planners and landscape architects from both the public and private sectors will find tailored solutions and future-orientated concepts for open spaces and, ultimately for social change in Cologne. The trade fair’s new scheduling outside of North Rhine-Westphalia’s autumn holidays, has received great response from municipalities and companies well in advance, which is expected to lead to increased interest on the visitor side – from both Germany and abroad.

Easy to reach, easy to meet

In order to successfully and sustainably consolidate FSB 2015, the organisers at Koelnmesse, together with the conceptual sponsors and partners, have further developed the fair concept. The new theme-orientated hall layout will lend the trade fair duo even greater momentum and will have an optimal effect on the synergies. As of 2015, exhibitors at both events will benefit from the improved infrastructure in the northern area of the Cologne exhibition grounds. In addition, the modern naturally lit halls provide the optimal transit route to guide the stream of visitors through the fairground’s Boulevard. The Northern Halls connect ideally with Congress Centres North and East. In the future, visitors of the trade fair will enter via Entrance North, which offers numerous parking facilities in the immediate vicinity, as well as Entrance East. Entrance East connects conveniently with the Inter City Express (ICE) train station, the public transport hub “Köln Messe/Deutz” station and the tram station “Koelnmesse”.

The newly developed exhibition concept is specifically targeted to ensure that decision-makers from municipalities and sporting associations, as well as the many international visitors, will have more time for an extensive fair visit and the exchange of information. Parallel to this, in cooperation with national sports and municipal associations, the specialist supporting programme addresses current industry topics in greater depth, with special focus on issues important for municipalities, planners, operators and sports clubs. Throughout the fair, numerous “action areas”, as well as individual trade events complement the offer in the halls. Some of these include the ISS solar skating rink, the “Soccer and More” football field, the “FIBA – World of Basketball” and the “Trampoline Variety by Eurotramp”.

Around 650 companies awaited in Cologne

The companies participating at FSB include among others: Aquarena, Aquadrolics, AST, Berleburger Schaumstoffwerke, Berliner Seilfabrik, Conica, Conradi + Kaiser, Engo, e.s.m Edelstahl, Eurotramp, Fritz Müller, Hamberger, Herculan, HSB Hinke Schwimmbad, Huck Seiltechnik, ISS Solar, Kindt, Klarer Freizeitanlagen AG, Kraiburg, Kübler, Lappset, Melos, Mondo, Patentverwag Italia Srl., Polytan, Raita, Roigk GmbH, Scheidt & Bachmann, SMG, Sport Thieme, Strabag, Tapper & Hollmann, Universal Sport, Wibit Sports, WIBRE Elektrogeräte and Wiegand Mälzer.

DOSB advises on sports facilities

FSB’s partner associations in the field of sports facilities include DOSB (Deutscher Olympischer Sportbund/German Olympic Sports Confederation), Landessportbund NRW (North Rhine-Westphalia Sports Federation), BSI/Bundesverband der Deutschen Sportartikel-Industrie (Association for the German Sporting Goods Industry) with Gütegemeinschaft Sportgeräte e.V (German Institute for Quality Assurance in Sports Equipment), ADS-Arbeitsgemeinschaft Deutscher Sportämter e.V. (German Municipal Sports Departments and Sports Associations Working Group) as well as FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) and FIBA (International Basketball Federation).

Together with the sports federations of the states of Hessen, North Rhine-Westphalia and Wurttemberg, as well as the Federal Sports Research Institute (Bundesinstitut für Sportwissenschaft), the DOSB will present itself at its own fair stand in Hall 7 once more. Consultation offers for sports facilities will be the focus and include topics like resource-saving modernisation, renovation and new construction of sports centres, as well as concepts for sustainable sports facility management.

Cross-generation public spaces for exercise The new FSB concept and the move to the modern North Halls allow Hall 9 to be used for the first time as a themed hall for the amenity areas, playground equipment and outdoor fitness sectors. Here, numerous national and international exhibitors will present their products, projects and services for the planning and designing of open spaces, specifically organised with concepts such as municipal planning and urban design, areas for play, spaces for exercise, demographic change and mobility in mind. Together with their long-standing partners STADTundRAUM and BSFH (Bundesverband für Spielplatzgeräte- und Freizeitanlagen-Hersteller/Federal Association of Playground Equipment and Recreational Facilities Manufacturers), in addition to attractively designed themed areas, FSB is also presenting content-related forums with added value for municipalities, planners and landscape architects.

Across more than 2,000 sqm, STADTundRAUM (city and space) is presenting an area dedicated to urban spaces, places of encounter and playground themes. The visitor market place in the area is the communication hub for specialist in-depth exchange between exhibitors, planners and fair visitors. At the market place and the adjoining area, designed to resemble a “real” outdoor area, trade fair visitors can not only look at the exhibits, but also try out the objects first-hand. Among others, you will find a children’s carousel, a multifunctional movement station, a shoulder trainer for sports novices rooted in the Chinese tradition, as well as a special bench for walker users.

In addition, special topics and workshops have been thematically integrated in the layout planning. The following subjects will be covered: “Planning and demographic change – cities, urban districts, gardens, barrier-free spaces and mobility”, “Playground security” and “Accessibility”. The “SPIELRAUM-Preis” (the German Amenities Prize) will be awarded for the eleventh time at this year’s FSB (Friday, 30 October 2015) to distinguish exemplary areas for play. This year, “Barrier-free public spaces for play and exercise” are in special focus.

Federal Association of Playground Equipment and Recreational Facilities Manufacturers (BSFH) with two focal topics in Hall 9 In addition to its presentation as an industry association and as a meeting point for all questions on the topics of playgrounds, playground safety and outdoor fitness, in 2015 BSFH sets a new tone with the BSFH FORUM’s themed areas. In cooperation with the “Playground@Landscape” magazine and supported by the German Towns and Municipalities Association, a practice-orientated specialist programme will take place on 28, 29 and 30 October in Hall 9, with the topics of “Cities and municipalities get people moving: Fitness parcours in Cologne’s public space” as well as “Security on playgrounds” and “Trends in the playing ground worlds”. A further partner will once again be the German Association of Towns and Municipalities.

PlanerFORUM for municipal decision-makers This year, planners, planning offices and institutions will present their projects and services on the “planerFORUM” communal platform in Hall 9 already for the second time. In short presentations, they provide plenty of ideas and show realised and transferrable solutions as examples of best practice. The North Rhine-Westphalia section of the German Landscape Architects Association (bdla-nrw) is represented with six member offices attending. Examples from the wide spectrum of landscape architecture in the design of open spaces will be shown. On 29 October 2015 (“bdla day”), visitors will have the chance to get informed on the topics of “Golf training in public space”, “A liveable city for all” and skate park planning. A discussion will take place at the conclusion.

Public and private pool sector in joint halls In the scope of the trade fair duo, the joint presentation means that all aspects of the public and private pool, wellness and sauna sectors are now represented in Halls 6 and 7 – also in clearly defined theme worlds. The trade fair duo’s last edition successfully brought together the swimming pool sectors from aquanale and FSB’s ‘Public pool construction’ area and confirmed that joint trade fair concepts are a guarantee for a successful future for all sectors involved.

The 6th Cologne Swimming Pool & Wellness FORUM in Hall 6 is acting as the joint umbrella for the swimming pool sectora of FSB and aquanale again this year. Koelnmesse is, together with the trade associations bsw (the German Association of Swimming Pools & Wellness e.V.) and IAKS (the International Association for Sport and Recreational Facilities e.V.) and in cooperation with further partners, organising an informative and theme-oriented expert programme over four days that is tailormade for the target group of public swimming pool operators as well as for swimming pool constructors, hoteliers, planners and architects. Health and environmental protection are also the overarching trends for the “PlanerFORUM on public pool construction”, or to be exact, sustainable renovation of public pools as well as the topic of water treatment. The event will take place on 29 October as part of the sixth Cologne Swimming Pool and Wellness FORUM.

New: Forum on outdoor sports facilities

The outdoor sports facilities forum will take place for the first time at FSB 2015. The International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS) and its partner associations will present current trends and information for planners and operators of sports facilities and public amenity areas. Over the first three days of the fair, lectures will be given on themes such as “New Findings from FIFA’s Artificial Turf Quality Concept”, where results from the latest international research studies will be presented, the recycling of artificial turf systems, management approaches for the control of municipal open air facilities or safety management on sports grounds. Furthermore, there will also be first-hand information on the current situation of artificial turf standards and technology, infill granules and plastic floor coverings as well as an overview of the hybrid turf system that are available on the market.

24th IAKS Congres and the award ceremony of the Architecture Prize In 2015, IAKS is celebrating its 50th anniversary at FSB. This anniversary is an integral theme of the congress and the workshops. To commemorate its 50th anniversary, IAKS will take a look into the history of sporting and recreational infrastructure. In the course of an award ceremony, prominent figures from five decades of international sports facility construction will be initiated into the “IAKS Hall of Fame”. In line with this, the Congress will again this year deal with architecturally and operationally archetypal projects, in which sustainability and social aspects are of great importance. Under this year’s motto “Planning, construction, modernisation and the management of sports and leisure centres”, international experts from the sports facilities industry will discuss the building and business trends as well as best practices; the palette ranges from new ways for traditional sports grounds, sports facilities for colleges and schools, to stadiums and arenas for major events through to urban experiential spaces and amenity areas. The congress will examine the question of how one can best serve the demand for attractive, healthy and functional sports and leisure facilities to the benefit of everyone, a topic which indeed lies at the heart of FSB.

The absolute highlight of the IAKS Congress is the presentation of the IOC/IAKS Award, the IPC/IAKS distinction and the award for young talents, the IOC/IPC/IAKS Architecture and Design Award for Students and Young Professionals. These most important international architecture prizes for sports, leisure and recreational buildings are presented by the IAKS in the scope of a special event on all days of the trade fair.

International Swimming Pool Congress expands supporting programme For the first time ever, the trade fair duo is also hosting the International Swimming Pool Congress of the German Society for Natural Bathing Waters (DGfNB), which more than 1,000 national and international congress participants are expected to attend in Cologne. Under the motto “Variety on the Water”, the congress offers an informative programme on the latest trends, relevant norms, quality assurance programmes and for example on the state-of-the-art technologies in natural water treatment, types of construction or delivers tips and the latest cognitions for the sustainable water care of public and private swimming and bathing pools. Moreover, renowned companies from all over Europe will be presenting their services, products and innovations on the elaborately designed special area dedicated to the theme of natural pools and swimming ponds in Hall 6. Since this range of topics is of great interest to both the public and the private swimming pool market, the new hall location also creates the best possible synergies and short routes for visitors from both areas.