A brand new industry event aiming to bring together a wide range of sectors to tackle the physical inactivity crisis will take place at London Olympia next year.

Elevate, which runs from 4-5 May 2016, is intended to become an annual event which ‘elevates’ the importance of physical activity, showcases the best of the industry and encourages cross-sector collaboration.

Event director Max Quittenton, who has previously worked on Leisure Industry Week, says the show will bring together academia, healthcare, government, the physical activity sector and performance experts to focus on turning the tide of inactivity.

The focus on physical inactivity as a separate issue to obesity – driven by the work of organisations such as ukactive – has marked a significant sea-change in the public health narrative and follows a University of Cambridge report that found physical inactivity is killing twice as many Europeans as obesity. The event hopes to directly address the complex societal challenge of physical inactivity and foster solutions.

“Our chief aim is to bring otherwise disparate groups together under one roof to stimulate progress,” Quittenton told Health Club Management.

“The response has been fantastic: a large number of the most influential brands are already supporting the event. Our research indicates that there is a significant level support for an annual event of scale in London.”

The event will comprise a trade show, more than 100 speakers from across academia, industry, healthcare and performance, as well as nine ‘Curations’ exploring the connection between exercise, health and performance.

Elevate has so far drew support from suppliers such as Technogym, Matrix and Cybex; operators such as SLM and Nuffield Health; in addition to organisations such as Public Health England and CIMSPA.

The event is free to attend and expects to draw around 4,000 visitors in total.