London's Olympia in May will be the venue for Elevate 2016, the UK's largest trade event dedicated to physical activity, bringing together a range of leaders and specialists from all disciplines

Physical inactivity is moving higher and higher up the public agenda, presenting the physical activity sector with significant opportunity. An opportunity to further raise industry standards, collaborate with healthcare and connect with those responsible for the highest levels of human performance.

Taking place at Olympia, London, on 4–5 May 2016, Elevate will bring together professionals from these different sectors to learn more about how exercise, health and performance connect.

Elevate is a trade event designed to bring together industry leaders, academics, practitioners, policy makers and sport scientists to focus on tackling physical inactivity.

Max Quittenton, director of Elevate, comments: “Tackling physical inactivity is widely recognised as politically, economically and socially more important than ever. An independently researched, balanced, free-to-attend event of scale, in London, will help accelerate progress first regionally, then nationally – and in the near future, internationally.”

Overview
Over the two-day event, thousands of attendees will be welcomed, all benefiting from a free exhibition and seminar programme boasting hundreds of speakers and exhibitors.

Prof Fares Haddad, ISEH clinical director, says: “The ISEH – which aims to translate between elite sport, amateur sports and exercise prescription, with the ultimate aim of both health and performance gains – is pleased to support Elevate. We believe London is the best place for the major stakeholders to learn more about the ways in which exercise, health and performance connect.’’

Seminars
Elevate will run three seminars covering Future Performance, Physical Activity for Health and Wellbeing, and Inclusivity Strategies to Increase Participation. Speakers represent a range of organisations including EIS, UK Sport, Intelligent Health, Public Health England, Juniper Research and TfL.

Professor Charlie Foster from the University of Oxford is a leader of physical activity and public health in the UK, and will be chairing a talk on physical activity as preventative care. Foster comments: “The UK Chief Medical Officers have prioritised physical activity and the new infographics for adults, children and young people will be essential tools for all health and fitness professionals to use to promote physical activity. Elevate brings together different sectors which, working together, have a much better chance of achieving success than working in silos.”

Exhibition
With seven feature areas, two attractions and 150 exhibitors and sponsors – including Matrix Fitness, Technogym, Precor, Pulse Fitness, Origin Fitness, Les Mills, Wattbike, TRX, Octane and Power Plate – attendees will learn more about how the connections between exercise, health and performance are developing. With inspiring attractions, demonstrations and innovative solutions feature areas, including a skills pavilion and technology walk, attendees can immerse themselves in the latest products and research designed to facilitate future cross-sector collaborations.

Zak Pitt, MD of Jordan Fitness, which will be exhibiting at the show, comments: “As Europe's leading functional fitness equipment and education specialist, we're committed to working closely with organisations such as Elevate to provide a platform where experts from the leisure sector, academia and healthcare can come together to help tackle the enormous challenge that is physical inactivity within the UK.

"Everything we do reflects our passion for fitness and education, while encouraging continuous improvement, which is why we feel an event such as Elevate is the perfect opportunity to encourage future health innovation.”

Supporters
Supporters of the event include Public Health England (PHE), London Sport, the Institute of Sport, Exercise & Health (ISEH), the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), SIBEC, Parkour UK, and the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine (NCSEM) among others.

Barry Kelly, strategic lead for Physical Activity and Health at London Sport, comments: “Elevate provides a chance for all stakeholders to contribute and learn more about how the connections between exercise, health and performance are strengthening. I look forward to discussing these topics and addressing the importance of collaborative approaches at the conference in May.”

For more information, visit www.elevatearena.com