Sporting Goods Firms Pledge to Boost Youth Activity
83 companies and a federation signed a coordinated open letter committing to increase physical activity among young people worldwide.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Fitness
Live Poll
Do you think your local schools are doing enough to get kids moving?
Eighty-three sporting goods companies and federations, coordinated by the WFSGI, have signed an open letter committing to increase youth physical activity. The pledge comes as WHO data published in The Lancet found 86 percent of adolescents are not meeting recommended activity levels.
Why it matters
Physical inactivity is a top risk factor for non-communicable diseases, which account for 75 percent of deaths globally. The WHO findings reinforce the urgency of accelerating action on youth inactivity.
The WHO analysis pooled 389 population-based surveys from 140 countries and territories, finding 86 percent of adolescents fall short of recommended activity levels and that girls are less active than boys in every region. The source does not specify how the signatories' initiatives will be evaluated against these baselines.
The players
WFSGI
The World Federation of Sporting Goods Industry coordinated the open letter and is led by chief executive Emma Zwiebler.
Decathlon
The French sporting goods retailer is among the brand signatories, and its CEO Javier López is listed as a participant in the pledge.
The details
The open letter, coordinated by the WFSGI, commits signatories including Adidas, Asics, Bauer, Decathlon, New Balance and Nike to initiatives that increase youth participation and close the gender gap. Signatories also pledged to engage governments to align health, education, sport, trade and urban planning policies.
Timeline
2010 to 2025: period covered by the WHO global adolescent physical activity trends study.
November 4, 2026: the open letter was reported as signed.
Big Picture
The industry pledge follows the WHO Lancet study's finding that 86 percent of adolescents are inactive, turning a public-health baseline into a corporate commitment to youth participation.
Parents and young people may see more youth sport programs and participation initiatives from major brands as signatories pursue the pledged commitments. Families should watch for local programs that expand access to activity, particularly for girls, who the WHO data shows are less active in every region.
The takeaway
Adding even modest daily movement can help close the activity gap the WHO identified among teens. Look for community sports and school programs that make regular activity accessible for young people.
Further reading
Explore more on Fitness to see how youth activity levels are shaping broader exercise trends.
Live Poll
Do you think your local schools are doing enough to get kids moving?
