Although ispo summer 06, which took place in Munich from July 16 to 18, reported slightly lower visitor numbers this year (approximately 19,000), the number of exhibitors increased to 1,015 from 915 in 2005.

According to the organisers, the German trade visitors were especially reserved following the demanding weeks of the World Cup weeks and due to the hot summer temperatures, but the overseas visitors, representing approximately 100 countries, represented a high proportion of attendees. In addition to the traditionally strong participation from EU countries and Switzerland, there was a positive development in the number of visitors from Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, Turkey, India, North and South America, the Balkans, China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

The fair launched several new platforms such as the new “Triathlon Transition Area” within running_ispo which presented the triathlon for the first time. A new project “Wearable Technology” depicted the integration of high-tech products in sports products, collections and accessories within outdoor_ispo. The product range extended from backpacks with solar cells and helmets with cameras to functional jackets with GPS navigation and T-shirts with iPod control all the way to gloves with integrated MP3 players. board_ispo put kiteboarding in focus with the “TradeWind” initiative. In addition to kites, rope systems, bars, trapezes, boards, bindings and safety systems, the kite industry also presented corresponding fashion. The board_ispo community also focused on traditional surfing with a new project “Glass & Resin” which presented the latest developments in surfboard construction and design.