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The biennial event, to be held in Cologne from 26th to 28th October, is expected to attract in excess of 600 companies from over 40 countries within a total exhibition space of around 62,000 metres2. It will present a wide spectrum of innovations, products and services from the amenity, sport and pool facilities industry.

FSB, which is backed by the International Association of Sport and Leisure Facilities (Internationale Vereinigung Sport- und Freizeiteinrichtungen - IAKS), will also include specialist events such as the 22nd IAKS Congress, the 4th Cologne Swimming Pool and Wellness Forum, the Synthetic Turf Forum as well as events on playground safety along with the design and structuring of amenity areas for all sections of the population.

In addition, the event will see the presentation of the International Olympic Committee/IAKS sports facilities award, the International Paralympic Committe/IAKS Distinction and the German Playground Award. Other highlights are set to include the 'Bath houses - real-life utopias' special show, numerous presentation areas for football, basketball, paddle tennis, ice skating, ice hockey and aqua fitness and the FSB skatepark.

FSB is complemented by aquanale, the International Trade Fair for Swimming Pools, Spas, Saunas and Wellness. Held parallel to FSB, and running from 26th to 29th October 2011, the event has is linked to FSB by a water boulevard, providing a spatial link connecting the swimming pool sections of both trade fairs. Around 350 companies from the swimming pool and sauna industries will present themselves at the two trade fairs, meaning all swimming-related sectors are completely represented at the events.

In 2009, 572 exhibitors from 41 countries presented their products and solutions at FSB and the 2011 event is expected to be even larger.

As Stefan Kranefeld; Vice-President Health, Lifestyle and Facilities for event organiser Koelnmesse explains, "the event is almost fully booked, all the renowned manufacturers are represented.

"This once again underlines FSB's position as a leading international trade fair for the participating sectors."

A main theme at FSB will be artificial turf pitches, with the world's largest synthetic turf presentation held within the framework of FSB. The Trade Fair will be complemented by IAKS and the European Artificial Turf Association (ESTO) staging the Synthetic Turf Forum at the event while world football governing body FIFA is also inviting interested parties within the framework of FSB, to a workshop on the theme of synthetic turf.

Another highlight will be the Federal Association of German Swimming Pool Attendants (Bundesverband Deutscher Schwimmmeister) holding its 'Shape the future - Preserve swimming pools' symposium. The symposium aims to draw attention to the need for a future-orientated swimming pool-development strategy.

For more information contact Koelnmesse GmbH - Department Health, Lifestyle and Facilities on +49 221 8210, E: fsb@koelnmesse.de, www.fsb-cologne.com

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