Media Room

05/2026

60 years of SPORT 2000: Home of Experts as the response to change in specialist sports retail

Sixty years after being founded by 36 specialist sports retailers in France, SPORT 2000 Group International is looking firmly to the future. During this year’s international conference in Mainhausen, the international umbrella organisation of SPORT 2000 demonstrated how it is further sharpening its positioning as the Home of Experts, consistently advancing its global expansion and strategically developing specialist sports retail.

Over the past six decades, SPORT 2000 has evolved from a traditional buying group into an internationally connected retail service organisation with a clear positioning in performance-driven specialist sports retail and a growing global presence. Today, SPORT 2000 Group International brings together around 2,000 independent specialist sports retailers with approximately 3,000 stores in 17 countries, making it one of the world’s leading organisations in specialist sports retail. “In future, competition in specialist sports retail will not be decided by size, but by relevance,” emphasises Margit Gosau, CEO of SPORT 2000 Group International, adding: “Through specialisation, international collaboration and a high level of expertise, we create for our specialist sports retailers the relevance that makes the difference in the market.”

60 years of SPORT 2000: International networking as a success factor
What has made SPORT 2000 strong for 60 years is not only its international presence, but also its ability to connect different perspectives, markets and expertise within a powerful network. The anniversary event at the ANWR Campus in Mainhausen made clear how strongly global connectivity and collaborative partnership continue to shape SPORT 2000’s development to this day. Together with partners from retail and industry, national country organisations, the Supervisory Board and long-standing companions of the organisation, SPORT 2000 Group International linked its 60th anniversary with a look ahead to the future development of specialist sports retail. Alongside current market developments, the focus was above all on personal exchange within the network. Sporting challenges, shared activities and live music created a setting that made the core of the SPORT 2000 spirit, the human touch, tangible beyond the day’s official programme as well. “Particularly in an increasingly dynamic market environment, genuine human closeness, strong networks, different perspectives and collaborative partnership, down-to-earth and approachable, are needed to create lasting relevance and clear differentiation in specialist sports retail. That is where our strength lies as ONE SPORT 2000,” says Gosau.

Changes to the Supervisory Board of SPORT 2000 Group International
The continued development of SPORT 2000 Group International is also reflected in the reorganisation of its Supervisory Board. With Dr Holger Schwarting and Marius Rovers, two long-standing members are stepping down from the body, having played a decisive role in shaping SPORT 2000’s development over many years. As Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Dr Holger Schwarting was responsible for key strategic developments at SPORT 2000 Group International for more than 15 years. Since 2005, Marius Rovers has contributed his industry expertise, at the time also serving as Chairman of the Supervisory Board, and in 2024 ultimately assumed the role of Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board. Together, they shaped a board culture characterised by strategic clarity, collaborative partnership and an international perspective. “Holger Schwarting and Marius Rovers have supported SPORT 2000 Group International with great commitment, international expertise and entrepreneurial foresight. Both have provided important impetus for the further development of our network and made a significant contribution to positioning SPORT 2000 as the Home of Experts,” says Gosau, thanking them for many years of trusted support.

New perspectives for the next phase of development
With Martin Kössler as the new Chair of the Supervisory Board and Chantal Dubbert as Deputy Chair of the Supervisory Board, SPORT 2000 Group is strategically repositioning its Supervisory Board. Kössler brings more than 30 years of international experience in sport, outdoor and business development. The Swedish entrepreneur and industry expert has worked for companies such as Haglöfs, Gore-Tex and Bergans of Norway, among others, and has extensive board experience. Dubbert complements the body with sound expertise in retail, assortment strategy and transformation processes. The retail and fashion expert has worked for companies including Globetrotter, s.Oliver and Görtz and today supports businesses through transformation processes.  "I know the Sport 2000 as a family of leading industry entrepreneurs with the deepest passion and product knowledge and highest service ambitions, Home of Experts. Not a remote-controlled chain but the people everyone in this industry at the of end of the day depend on, the front line in everyday contact with the end users. I look very much forward to the journey ahead with further international expansion together with Margit Gosau, Sport 2000 International CEO and board member of the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI), fellow board members and the whole Sport 2000 family," said Martin Kössler about his new role as Chair of the Supervisory Board. With the reorganisation of the Supervisory Board, SPORT 2000 Group International is deliberately strengthening the international and strategic expertise that will be decisive for the next phase of development in specialist sports retail. "Successful organizations consistently evolve and deliberately expand their strengths. Particularly dynamic market phases create space for new perspectives and further development I want to specifically use my many years of retail experience and my expertise from transformation processes to actively help shape the development of SPORT 2000," said Chantal Dubbert about her role as deputy chair of the supervisory board at SPORT 2000 Group International. The Supervisory Board will in future be composed as follows: Chairman Martin Kössler (Sweden), Deputy Chairwoman Chantal Dubbert (Germany), Dominik Solleder (Germany), Nikolay Tzonov (Bulgaria/Greece), Treasurer Gian-Albert Munch (France).

SPORT 2000 Group International
SPORT 2000 Group International is the world’s second-largest retail organisation of independent specialist sports retailers, with around 3,000 stores in 17 countries. In 2025, the sports retail company generated total turnover of €5.3 billion.