—— An Exclusive Interview with European Industry Pioneer Angelo Desidera after FIBO & China Sport Show 2026
▍ Journalist’s Foreword & Context
At the bustling venues of FIBO Cologne 2026, attending as an officially invited media journalist, I had the privilege of engaging in high-level dialogues with industry leaders and brand experts from across the globe. My core mission was to capture the profound, ongoing evolution of the global fitness and equipment markets, driven by rapid technological disruption and unprecedented demographic shifts.
Amid the vibrant energy of the exhibition, nothing was more exhilarating than my extended conversations with European fitness industry titan, Mr. Angelo Desidera. In fact, our initial dialogue on the first day of FIBO sparked such immense mutual inspiration that we found ourselves scheduling a second, spontaneous meeting the very next day to dive even deeper.
Throughout our face-to-face sessions, Angelo offered masterclass-level insights into the complex, shifting dynamics of both European and international markets. Moreover, leveraging his deep institutional prestige, he generously introduced me to several top-tier global professionals on the floor, vastly broadening my international perspective and expanding our platform’s global network.
During our exchanges, Angelo demonstrated a keen and profound interest in the Asian market, particularly the fitness landscape in China. He noted that China’s massive supply chain foundation, rapidly accelerating hardware-software integration, and expanding consumer base are fundamentally reshaping the global industry. He explicitly voiced a strong desire to forge deeper communication and strategic collaborations with FitGearSource and expressed an eager anticipation of visiting China in the near future to engage in person with Chinese experts and entrepreneurs.
The synergy did not fade after FIBO Cologne concluded. Upon my return, Angelo and I reunited digitally for two subsequent video calls to elaborate on the strategic future of the product market. I posed three pivotal questions to gain his unique, cross-continental vision.
Below is the official transcript of our recent high-level dialogue:
▍ The Exclusive Interview Transcript
[Focus 1: The 2030 Horizon]
FitGearSource: Where do you see the fitness market going in 2030?
Angelo Desidera: By 2030 we’ll only be halfway through the full switch from a fitness-products market to a fitness ecosystem of wellbeing — one where the human-centric focus becomes the main driver for both sides, international producers and consumers alike. “Longevity” will be an everyday word for hundreds of millions of people. Consider that there are already around 830 million people aged 65 and older in the world today, projected to grow to 1.7 billion by 2054 — that demographic alone reshapes what the market is built around.
[Focus 2: Three-Year Growth Drivers]
FitGearSource: What are the top 3 emerging growth drivers in the fitness product market over the next three years?
Angelo Desidera:
1. Longevity and healthy-aging equipment — strength and mobility products engineered around the biomechanics and recovery needs of the 55+ user, the fastest-growing consumer segment.
2. Data-driven and connected wellbeing — equipment integrated with biometric tracking, AI coaching and health metrics that turn a workout into a measurable longevity and recovery tool.
3. Recovery and holistic wellness — the move beyond pure performance into recovery, regeneration and mental wellbeing (compression, sleep, breathwork, mind-body), where product demand is rising fastest.
[Focus 3: Strategic Opportunities for Brands]
FitGearSource: Where do the opportunities lie for fitness equipment brands?
Angelo Desidera: The opportunities lie in two areas. First, dedicated strength equipment for older adults, with biomechanics specifically studied around the needs, joint loads and movement patterns of an aging body — not adapted gym machines, but purpose-built ones. Second, holistic products and accessories that simply don’t exist yet: I’m thinking of the next “Step” or “Bosu” — the category-defining, simple, universal tool that a whole training method gets built around.
▍ Expert Background Profile
Angelo Desidera
Fitness Industry Consultant · Market Observer · Speaker
A second-generation sports club proprietor whose family business helped shape the modern Italian fitness landscape, Angelo Desidera combines deep heritage with a relentless drive to innovate. His roots run through tennis, squash, and fitness, including the first squash centre established in Rome in 1981 and the first Roman club to launch both Spinning and Group Rowing.
A Pioneering Spirit
Innovation has defined Angelo’s trajectory from the very beginning. In the early 1980s he introduced squash and some of the first cardio-fitness machines in Italy, personally sourced from the United States, distinguishing the family club as the first Italian member of IHRSA. He went on to launch the first cricket school for young people in Italy, and in the first half of the 1990s brought Spinning and Group Rowing to Rome. He is also co-founder of MondoFitness, the flagship event of the Roman summer.
Institutional Leadership
International Public Relations Officer for the Italian Badminton and Squash Association.
Deputy Vice President of the Confcommercio association dedicated to Sport.
Board Member of EuropeActive for two consecutive mandates — six consecutive years.
Global Industry Ambassador
Angelo serves as an ambassador and consultant to the world’s leading sector trade shows, including FIBO, SIBEC, World Sport Istanbul, Padel Trend Expo, and Sense4Fit Bucharest, maintaining privileged, on-the-ground access to the European and international fitness markets.