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In her opening remarks, Minister Ellis welcomed the invitation to attend the ASGA event and encouraged the sporting goods industry to continue their good work in urging all Australians to get physically active and to lead healthier lifestyles.
During her presentation the Minister discussed her recently released document titled “Australian Sport: emerging challenges, new directions” the Federal Government’s announcement of a complete reform of the Australian Sports system. Minister Ellis stressed that sport, with this reform, will now be used as a preventative health measure in the fight against Australia’s growing obesity problem.
“In 2004/05, 70% of Australians aged 15 years and over were classified as sedentary or having low exercise levels”, said the Sports Minister.
“There were no improvements in exercise levels since they were first measured in 1995 and in a period from 1989-90 to 2004-05 the proportion of obese adults in Australia had doubled from 9% to 18%.”
Minister Ellis explained the importance the Rudd Government will place on working collaboratively with industry and in particular with the Australian Sporting Goods Association in their quest to see healthier and more active Australians.
The ASGA Annual Forum was held at the MCG for the second consecutive year. The highlight of this year’s event was a special presentation from Li Cunxin, author of the runaway international best seller “Mao’s Last Dancer”. Born of a remarkable story, Li Cunxin had the audience on the edge of their seats as he recounted his amazing life, taken from his home and poverty stricken China as a little boy to become one of the best ballet dancers in the world.
In addition the audience had much to absorb from topical presentations regarding supply chain services, the protection of intellectual property rights, on-line retail trading and marketing and the latest information from Customs Australia regarding the importation of sporting goods into Australia.
Executive Director for ASGA, Sean Cary, presented ASGA’s three year strategic plan. The presentation detailed ASGA’s four strategic priorities for the next three years:
- Lead Industry Growth – provide visible and informed leadership to strengthen the drivers of industry growth and performance.
- People Development – deliver professional development support and resources to attract and retain talented people in our industry.
- Market Insight – premier information source for the Australian sport and active lifestyle industry.
- Business Development – increase investment in the industry by substantially growing revenue.
The Forum concluded with the ASGA Annual Industry Awards – awards presented for excellence in product innovation and retail professional development for the 2007 calendar year.
Asics Oceania won the overall 2007 “Product Innovation of the Year Award” for their Gel Lethal Ultimate football boot.
Category winners for the 2007 Product Innovation of the Year Award were:
- Footwear – Asics Oceania – Gel Lethal Ultimate Football Boot
- Apparel – Taylor Made adidas Golf – Climacool Motion Polo
- Equipment – SportZStats – SportZstats counters
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Foot Locker Asia Pacific won their second consecutive "Retail Professional Development Program of the Year Award", deserved recognition for Foot Locker’s commitment to raising the bar when it comes to developing their staff, within a carefully structured and well tailored sales and management training program.
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The following presentations from the forum can be downloaded by clicking on the links below :
| Attachment | Size |
| ASGA 2007 Industry Awards | 227.99 KB |
| ASGA Strategic Plan “Unified for Growth” 2008-2011 | 168.82 KB |
| Australian Sport New Directions | 251.24 KB |
| Customs Australia – Julie Callinan, Manager IP Rights Trade Policy and Regulation | 195.66 KB |
| GS-1 Australia – Sean Sloan, Manager Retail and Logistics | 233.14 KB |
| Hitwise – Tim Lewis, Director of Research & Development | 919.67 KB |
| UPS Supply Chain Services – Jeff Fairbairn, UPS Managing Director | 753.66 KB |
