From lifestyle sports to climate change – the leading challenges facing the industry have been revealed at the launch of the IAKS Congress and FSB 2017 in Germany today (7 November).

Over the next three days, FSB 2017, the international trade fair for amenity areas, sports and pool facilities, will see 650 companies from 45 countries present their innovations, products and services at the Koelnmesse in Cologne.

Running alongside the trade fair is the 25th IAKS Congress, which was opened by IAKS president Dr Stefan Kannewischer this morning.

"There's been a blurring of boundaries between sport and leisure, resulting in a need for more multifunctional spaces,” he told delegates.

"Deactivated people will not be activated with traditional sports, but rather with gentler lifestyle activities."

Kannewischer discussed the future trends that have been identified by IAKS (the International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities) as important for those involved in sports and leisure facilities around the world.

Among these were the growing importance of multifunctionality due to the emergence of new lifestyle sports, a need to design facilities to withstand the harsh effects of climate change and an increasing focus on accessibility for an ageing society.