FITNESS TRIBUNE No 1 English

Exhibition News

On Behalf of International Exhibition Group (IEG) we cordially invite you to attend & exhibit in the upcoming «Health & Fitness Club Management» trade fair in Moscow, Russia. «Health & Fitness Club Management» will take place in the Moscow from December 2-5, 2003.

This event was created to satisfy the demand of the surging fitness industry in Russia for the latest in equipment to modernize and expand existing facilities. Russian President Vladimir Putin, himself a certified Martial Arts expert, has publicly stated the need for the Russian people to adopt a more active lifestyle and to improve their health through exercise. The Russian people have responded according to IEG Director Alex Sakin. “Worldwide interest in health and fitness has finally caught on in Russia, and suppliers of fitness equipment, services, and apparel are finding in Russia one of the most lucrative emerging markets in the world today.” The Russian health & fitness industry has grown enormously in the past five years and today it is estimated that this country of 144 million people contains close to 7,500 clubs and spas. Vadim Prozorov, the manager in charge of Gold’s Gym in Moscow states that a successful fitness club in Russia must provide their clients with world-class equipment and services. “Our fitness hall is what we sell and people today demand the best. We are very, very interested in attending Health & Fit ness Club Management”. The need for outfitting and supplying clubs, spas, and athletic teams is so great in Russia today that most buyers must look internation ally for the systems they need. According to industry trade specialists, the fitness equipment market of Russia’s two major cities is around $30-35 mil lion. The entire sporting goods sector is projected to steadily develop in the coming years and fitness equipment is

considered one of the most promising sub-sectors, offering the best prospects Western exporters. The fitness equipment market in Rus sia has not yet been penetrated. Recent market research conducted in Mos cow by marketing research agency INKOMARKET has shown that nearly 50% of buyers of specialized fitness equipment have not been satisfied with the price and quality of available prod ucts, which led to not making a pur chase. Studying consumer preferences has shown that 67.7% of Muscovites prefer to buy imported sporting goods, because of the quality, design, comfort and reliability. Fitness Tribune and Fitness Sport Pub lisher Jean Pierre L. Schupp became involved because “Many companies are looking for new markets and one of the very largest markets is Russia. Even though they have their own fit ness industry, the quality is not yet up to European or American standards. This is a big opportunity for many potential exhibitors. On the other hand, fitness club owners are looking forward to getting good and interesting informa tion. Fitness Tribune can provide the Russian market with the newest infor mation about Europe and America, so it’s a great opportunity for us as well”. Fitness Tribune Magazine is the media sponsor for this event. For more information about exhibiting at Health & Fitness Club Management, contact Alex Sakin at International Exhibition Group, by phone at USA# (203) 357-1400, by fax (203) 356-1700, or email to: ASakin@iegexpo.com.

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Fitness Tribune International 1