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Looking forward to next week's National Sports Convention, event co-founder Martin Sheppard has highlighted eight exhibitors that he sees as "game changers" in the active recreation and sport sectors.

Sheppard explains "when attending a conference or expo there is always a question about what learnings a delegate can ‘take back to work’ and these industry stakeholders and product suppliers will be sharing innovations that will take the industry forward."

Martin Sheppard, Co-founder of the National Sports Convention (NSC) has identified eight game changers featured at this year’s NSC Conference and Sport and Recreation Expo.

1. Ausco Modular Pavilions - Accessibility has just become affordable 
Working with South Australia’s AFL originally, these modular pavilions are being embraced by all sports and are now integrated into the local government planning, upgrades and capital works programs.

Costing approximately 20-30% of the typical build costs and delivered within 20 weeks and all with a 30 year warrantee, these pavilions will have the gender balance of participation by providing a range of changing facilities that current facilities may not have considered.

Ausco Modular will be on stand 143 and feature on the NSC Sports Surfaces Industry Tour. 

2. World Health Organization - Global Action Plan on Physical Activity and Health 
The World Health Organization (WHO) has produced their generational strategy targeting more people to be active for a healthier world through a systems approach.

Fiona Bull, the architect of this approach will be presenting on Wednesday morning at the Global Thought Leaders Session and then at the first plenary session after the morning tea break. As Sport Australia have embraced this systems approach, all levels of government should listen to these presentations as it provides the opportunity to take this advice back to every municipality across Australia and make a difference locally, as it aims to align all interested parties who are keen to make their communities more active and healthier.

3. ActiveXchange - Marketing intelligence connected with physical activity and sporting participation outcomes has been made simple and understandable
A start-up technology company that has developed business intelligent solutions to enhance the way we think about analysing our possible client base, and the impact that data and information can have on engaging and retaining more active members, or intelligent marketing with the right person, at the right time with the right message, investment planning models and measuring social value.

Alex Burrows will be sharing insights ActiveXchange embraces market intelligence in a manner that proves significant value for sport, local government and aquatic and leisure centre managers on Thursday afternoon at the National Community Sport Conference.

4. Intelligent Play - the world’s most intelligent sports field management and monitoring system 
An intelligent management and monitoring system that has been embraced by England's Football Association for every synthetic field that they fund, to allow them and the field owner to monitor the usage, maintenance and expected life expectancy. It counts the number of players, the sections of the fields that they are using, and then produce automated maintenance reports to identify the ‘hot spots’ across the field. It can even let the client know if there is activity on the field at times there shouldn’t be and send a text direct to your phone.

Available in Australia after July from FieldTurf, it can be used on any synthetic or grass field.

Alex Talton (Chief Executive and founder) will explain how it is revolutionising the industry in the UK and how it can work in Australia at the National Sports Surfaces Conference (Thursday 1.30pm) and will be featured on stand 70.

5. Big Stadium Hockey - Technology that allows international hockey fields to be laid, played and returned back to natural grass within eight days 
England Hockey and Harlequins Rugby Union, along with sports turf manufacturers Polytan, water management specialist Polypipe and natural grass consultants STRI successfully recently transformed London’s The Stoop rugby stadium into a state of the art international hockey surface to host the FIH Pro-league Hockey matches.

Paul Kamphuis, Polytan’s General Manager, responsible for this innovative approach will share the learnings and insights at the National Sports Surfaces Conference (Wednesday 1.30pm), Polytan is also at stand 163 in the Sport and Recreation Expo.

6. Facility Planning Models for Future Generations - NSW Sport and Recreation 
The NSW Office of Sport and Recreation, sport infrastructure team have over the past few years developed modelling solutions to identify objectively where future needs for aquatic, recreation and sport facilities are needed. Exploring cross-boundary needs these modelling reports bring knowledge and insight to a very political process with logic, insights and an objective view taken. We have seen approaches from renowned consultants and university sector, but this sophistication takes the planning and decision making to the level it needs to be and will be linked to NSW government funding. It’s a real game changer and Karen Jones, acting Chief Execuitve of NSW Sport and Recreation will share her insights at the National Community Sport Conference (Thursday 1.30pm).

7. Play Sport - three million more people active in three years
Australia has a new communication portal that aims to work with community sport, government, event organisers, fitness providers and schools to connect with local people who want to be active locally. With a database of over 50,000 sport, recreation and physical activity providers already, Play Sport are providing an online platform for local people who want to find out about local opportunities, whether that be walking groups, fun runs, fitness classes, sporting clubs and competitions - the whole gambit… a single place for everyone to find their interests and how to take part. They are launching the platform at the NSC this year and are keen to work with every organisation to drive greater participation to your events, clubs and programs.

They are situated in stand 52 in the Sport and Recreation Expo next to the Peak Body Sports Hub.

8. The Systems Approach - Sport Australia embraces a new approach to work collectively with industry 
Join Sport Australia in learning how all of government and all of sport can work together to make a generational difference on how we can get more people active. At their stand in the Sport and Recreation Peak Body Sports Hub, the interactive screen will be demonstrating how it could work and how all the industry can collaborate and have a single vision. This is an opportunity to really shape the future approach that Sport Australia is embracing and aligning with the WHO approach. 

The National Sports Convention is being held from 23rd to 25th July 2019 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. 

Click here to view details of the National Sports Convention in the Australasian Leisure Management Industry Calendar.

Image courtesy of Playsport.

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14th June 2019 - PlaySport announced as Platinum Sponsor for 2019 National Sports Convention

12th June 2019 - Increasing significance of Athlete Rights to be discussed at the 2019 National Sports Convention

17th April 2019 - National Sports Convention program explores encouraging children and young people to be more active

22nd March 2019 - Fitness Australia executive reports on World Health Organization Dialogue

7th March 2019 - revolutioniseSPORT and ActiveXchange partner on new collaborative intelligence initiative

4th February 2019 - Modular designs meet demand for flexible sporting amenities

11th December 2018 - Polytan transforms Kalinga Stadium India for 2018 Mens Hockey World Cup

9th November 2018 - Sport Australia and the AIS announce new Talent Program to address leadership diversity in sport

6th August 2018 - Sport Australia launches ‘Move It’ campaign to encourage physical activity

4th June 2018 - World Health Organization launches Global Action Plan on Physical Activity

26th June 2015 - Grand Slam and Polytan deliver new synthetic grass courts for Northern Suburbs Tennis Association

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