International fitness bodies launch leadership initiatives

The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) and the Singapore-based Fit Summit have this week each launched leadership initiatives that aim to shape and provide innovative solutions for the fitness industry.

IHRSA’s Global Health & Fitness Alliance
IHRSA has this week announced its creation of “a high-level volunteer group of strategic thought leaders … to establish the Global Health & Fitness Alliance (GHFA)”, advising that this Alliance will support the growth and provide innovative solutions for the health and fitness industry.

It sets out GHFA’s overall mission is to:

• Position the health and fitness industry as a key contributor in the preventive healthcare continuum;
• Promote the industry’s vital contributions to the health, wellbeing, and prosperity of societies;
• Facilitate credible third-party evidence-based research on the health benefits and economic contributions of the health and fitness industry; and
• Promote policies, standards, and regulations that support health and fitness business operations.

The USA-based body adds “as the leading voice for the global health and fitness industry, (IHRSA has) formed the GHFA to create universal policies and initiatives for health and fitness.”

IHRSA goes on to commit staff resources to support the alliance, including facilitating meetings as needed and to establish and administer a dedicated fund for any monies raised by the GHFA to fund its initiatives.

Welcoming the IHRSA initiative, Greg Oliver, Chief Executive and Managing Director of Athe Australian-based Fitness & Lifestyle Group commented “whether it’s uniting the industry behind the Active and Safe Commitment, or bringing the best minds together to confront industry challenges, the establishment of the GHFA is another example of demonstrated global leadership by IHRSA.”

IHRSA has set the GHFA four objectives for the next year:

• Contribute towards the achievements of the World Health Organization’s Global Action Plan on Physical Activity (GAPPA), and ensure that health clubs are a key driver to the solution.
• Identify research objectives, resources, and partners needed to achieve research outcomes and other initiatives.
• Secure funding to carry out initiatives.
• Complement IHRSA and the fitness industry’s cooperative efforts to work with national and local alliances, industry coalitions, and other industry stakeholders.

IHRSA went on to advise that “more than 80 health clubs, suppliers, national industry associations, and other fitness industry stakeholders across North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific have volunteered to participate”.

Fit Summit’s Leadership Circle
In  a communication to stakeholders yesterday, FIT Summit founder and Chief Executive, Ross Campbell advised “today, we are proud to launch our Leadership Circle, a new best-in-class ecosystem of the biggest health, fitness and wellness investors, innovators and influencers in Asia-Pacific … combined these brands serve tens of millions of customers and are definitively (re)shaping the future of the Asia-Pacific industry.

“We are honoured, excited and committed to working alongside these leading companies and executives to continue to grow the Asia-Pacific marketplace, unlock its fullest potential and ensure benchmarks of excellence are continually raised to offer world-class services to consumers across the region.

“Their insights and perspectives will be shared regularly across our network in 2021, via our new monthly APAC newsletter, annual APAC industry report and two flagship Summits in May and November.”

Click here for more information on Fit Summit’s Leadership Circle.

For more information on IHRSA’s Global Health & Fitness Alliance email: ghfa@ihrsa.org