For the first time in China, WFSGI´s General Assembly brought together over 60 members from across the globe.
The 2025 general assembly and board meeting of the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) have taken place in Xiamen and Jinjiang, China, over two days, from April 15 to 16. The event was hosted by China’s leading sporting goods company, Anta Sports, in conjunction with the China Sporting Goods Federation (CSGF).
The key takeaways for the board meeting were:
- The decision of Anta Sports and the CSGF to support industry-first events in sporting goods hubs Xiamen and Jing Jang
- The addition of executives from Amer Sports, Apache Footwear, SFIA and Messe Muenchen to the WFSGI Board
- A visit to Victory Group’s JFE factory in Dongguan, to highlight innovation and upskilling in the sporting goods industry
- A presentation on the growth of mass participation sports events by Chris Robb and Prof. Huan Haiyan
WFSGI CEO Emma Zwiebler explained: “With our board we have committed to rotating our General Assembly between Europe, the Americas and Asia, taking our annual event to key sporting goods hubs around the world.”
WFSGI Board Vice Chair James Zheng, Executive Director of Anta Group, said: “Sports knows no borders, and the healthy development of the industry is inseparable from a more coordinated international dialogue mechanism.”
Updates to WFSGI Board
Following several recent changes in member companies, the general assembly audience was asked to approve four new nominees to replace outgoing representatives on the WFSGI Board. Anne Larilahti, Amer Sports VP Sustainability, Mitchell Tsai, CEO Apache Footwear, Todd Smith, President and CEO Sports & Fitness Industry Association, and Stefan Rummel, CEO Messe Muenchen, are taking up vacant positions on the WFSGI Board ahead of full elections in 2026.
”Having been involved in both the WFSGI Physical Activity and ESG Committees,” said Larilahti, ”I have found strong collaboration across the industry invaluable in driving forward the industry’s position and action on key topics.”
Andy Rubin, WFSGI Chair, said: “We have used our time in China with our hosts CSGF and ANTA and our wider member base to deepen our understanding of the Chinese sporting goods landscape and consumer, and the innovation and investment that is taking place among manufacturers to move the industry to the next level.”
Mass participation events encourage physical activity
Chris Robb, CEO Mass Participation World, and Huang Haiyan, Professor at Beijing Sport University, were guest speakers at the general assembly, discussing the growth of mass participation events inside and outside of China and the policies needed to ensure they have a lasting impact on the physical activities levels of the communities they take place in.
Their presentations supported the WFSGI’s Physical Activity Strategy to encourage the private and public sector to cooperate in addressing the growing crisis of physical inactivity.
The 2026 WFSGI general assembly is expected to take place in the US in March or April of next year, with full Board elections and the appointment of a new Chair and Vice-Chairs.
