COMMUNITY
+++ US footwear industry leaders have established the Footwear Innovation Fund, a non-profit research think tank focusing on innovation in the footwear industry, headquartered in Reston, Virginia +++
FINANCIAL
+++ Vinted Group, the owner of second-hand marketplace Vinted, saw revenues increase 36 percent to €813.4 million in 2024, while net profit jumped 330 percent year-on-year to €76.7 million +++
CORPORATE
+++ Mongoose has merged specialist agencies Mongoose Sports & Entertainment, Populate Social and Singapore-based ALIVE into one integrated global agency model +++
PRODUCT
+++ Saucony has unveiled its Silo “elevated footwear collection,” fusing the brand’s heritage and technology with high-fashion influences
+++ Hoka has unveiled an updated version of its Hopara 2 hiking sandal, dubbed Hoka Hopara 2 Aerino, featuring merino wool for better breathability
+++ American pro skateboarder Chad Muska is introducing Muska, his independent shoe brand +++
EVENTS
+++ Cricket will be part of the program of the Asian Games in 2026, scheduled to be held in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan, from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4
+++ The second edition of the Padel World Summit, following the inaugural event in 2024 in Malaga, will be held in Barcelona on May 27-29
+++ For the occasion of the Roland Garros tournament, the French Tennis Federation (FFT) has, in partnership with local authorities, announced the installation of a free fan zone, called the “Tribune Concorde” and accessible on June 4-9, on Paris’ iconic Place de la Concorde +++
RETAIL
+++ Sportslocker has opened a 120-sqm store at The Boulevard Outlet in Banbridge, Northern Ireland
+++ Indian apparel brand TechnoSport has opened a brand outlet in Indore, its first in North India, located at Indore’s Phoenix Citadel Mall
+++ Lacoste has re-opened its only store in Scotland, at the Livingston Designer Outlet, after a full and expansive refit
+++ Decathlon has expanded its presence in the Indian state of Kerala with a new store in Palakkad
+++ K-Way has inaugurated its second store in Taipei, located at Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport +++
BRANDS
+++ Nike has inked a deal to become the footwear and apparel sponsor of the 2025 Portland Marathon, which will take place on Oct. 5
+++ Adidas has agreed a long-term extension as kit supplier to Celtic Football Club
+++ Kukri Sports is extending its partnership with Team England as official kit supplier through to the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow
+++ Lacoste has signed French actress Adèle Exarchopoulos as a brand ambassador
+++ Formula One driver Charles Leclerc is collaborating with Ferrari on the design of an exclusive limited-edition apparel collection, developed with Ferrari Style’s creative director Rocco Iannone
+++ J.Lindeberg is collaborating with Kangol on an exclusive apparel collection combining performance sports fashion with streetwear heritage
+++ Babolat has extended its technical partnership with Italian padel clubs network Spector Padel House, which has been in place since 2021, until 2027
+++ US-based heated apparel brand Ororo has been named official heated apparel partner of PGA of Canada, the third-largest professional golf association in the world, and is now a supporting sponsor of all PGA of Canada National Championships
+++ British company Crew Clothing is entering the women’s athleisure segment with a capsule collection called SuperLuxe +++
PEOPLE
+++ Humphrey Kayange has been appointed Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for the fourth, 2026 edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games, in Dakar, following a request from Kirsty Coventry, who stepped down after her election as the new IOC President in March
+++ British Triathlon has appointed Amy Hall Director of Community & Sport Development and Gareth May Director of Commercial & Brand Partnership
+++ Alistair Booth, Chairman of BB&O Golf Ltd., is replacing Ian Watkins as President of England Golf for the coming 12 months
+++ Dick Sullivan will be retiring as CEO of the PGA TOUR Superstore later this summer but continuing to serve as the company’s Executive Chairman
+++ Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, former French Minister of Sports and Olympic and Paralympic Games, has launched a bid for the Presidency of the French National Olympic Committee (CNOSF) +++
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