Pickleball Growth Continues as Chinese Suppliers Lead the Way
Immersive Experience Captures Multi-Million Dollar Opportunities
HONG KONG, Oct. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Sources Sports & Outdoor officially opened today and will run until October 30 at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong. The show brings together approximately 600 exhibitors from across Asia under the theme "World Cup Fever, Outdoor Innovation." It presents diverse products including camping supplies and equipment, fitness equipment, water sports gear, outdoor sports products, sportswear, and accessories. The show features a series of innovative displays and professional activities, offering global buyers in-depth insights into the latest trends and product applications in the sports sector. The show is projected to attract nearly 15,000 professional B2B buyer visits.
USD 450 Million Pickleball Opportunity
As pickleball rapidly gains global popularity, this emerging sport is creating unprecedented commercial value. With an estimated 48 million active players worldwide today, participation is projected to exceed 100 million by 2030. According to market research data, the global pickleball equipment market was valued at approximately USD 457 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 916 million by 2034, representing a compound annual growth rate of 7.2%. China has become the world's largest pickleball paddle manufacturing base, accounting for over 70% of global production capacity.
The show presents a comprehensive pickleball industry ecosystem, with exhibitors showcasing products made from various materials and featuring different performance grades. The range spans from entry-level to professional products, including high-performance paddles crafted from carbon fiber, fiberglass, or polymer composite materials, competition balls meeting international tournament standards, and specialized product lines for both indoor and outdoor scenarios. These products demonstrate technical innovations in weight control, durability, and stroke performance, offering diverse, high-quality options with OEM/ODM customization services. They meet the growing procurement demands of the global pickleball market.
The show features an indoor pickleball training camp with live demonstrations by Hong Kong's top-ranked pickleball players in 2025, allowing buyers to personally experience and evaluate products on the training camp court. The show debuts the Pickleball Expo Cup 2025 in partnership with Po Leung Kuk, featuring corporate and open divisions in an elimination tournament format for high-level competitive showcases on 29 October, further promoting and popularizing this emerging sport. The competition will also feature performances by the professional cheerleading squad Hong Kong Taurus, energizing the atmosphere and cheering on participants.
World Cup-themed Area Captures 2026 Business
In anticipation of the global sports product sourcing surge driven by the World Cup 2026, the show features a dedicated "World Cup-themed Area" showcasing football industry chain products and customization solutions. The area presents professional football equipment, functional apparel, match support merchandise, and themed souvenirs, all integrating eco-friendly materials, technology, and personalized customization services.
In professional apparel, exhibitors present customized team jerseys using high-performance recycled fibers with moisture-wicking technology, alongside socks and headwear utilizing high-density knitting techniques, featuring compression design and silicone anti-slip strips with personalized logo embroidery support. Support merchandise includes personalized custom flags and scarves, enhancing match-watching interactivity and entertainment. Exhibitors offer flexible customization services supporting small-batch rapid sampling and production, enabling buyers to choose from high-end functional fabrics to economical materials based on market demands. The themed area also features a football experience zone, allowing buyers to enjoy the sport through interactive participation and feel the World Cup passion.
Outdoor Equipment Innovation Comprehensively Upgrades Camping Experience
The show deeply focuses on comprehensive outdoor lifestyle upgrades, showcasing a full range of outdoor innovation products including camping carts, multifunctional outdoor backpacks and high-performance camping stoves. Exhibitors present camping carts using lightweight aerospace aluminum and folding structural design, equipped with 360° swivel wheels and intelligent braking systems, balancing off-road performance with portability while supporting customization services.
The outdoor backpack series demonstrates ergonomic carrying systems combined with waterproof, abrasion-resistant recycled nylon fabrics, featuring built-in independent power sources and hydration bladder systems to meet long-distance hiking demands. Additionally, the show presents outdoor refrigerators, camping tents, portable water bottles and more, comprehensively demonstrating breakthroughs in outdoor equipment safety, intelligence and sustainability.
Interactive Experience Activities Enhance Show Vitality
The show continues emphasizing interactive experiences, partnering again with the Sports Performance and Functional Fitness Federation of Hong Kong, China to host the Indoor Triathlon Invitation Competition. Participants will use professional training equipment to simulate skiing, cycling, and rowing triathlon in competitive challenges across different categories, adding excitement to the show. The association will also conduct live Pilates demonstrations, with audiences able to participate immediately and experience core training technique essentials.
Sports Innovation Forum Explores Future Industry Transformation
The Global Sources Summit held during the show with the theme "Sports Innovation: From Elite Performance to Future Sportswear" focuses on future trends in the sports and outdoor industry. The summit gathers industry leaders, elite athletes, and expert scholars for in-depth discussions on key topics including sports performance enhancement, sustainable material applications, market trend analysis, and sportswear standards. Hong Kong athletics coach Mr. Chan Ka-ho and Hong Kong long-distance running record holder Ms. Christy Yiu Kit-ching will share practical experiences on how training and equipment empower professional runners. Experts will explore how sportswear integrates functionality with fashion aesthetics, market insights into sports and outdoor future trends, and safety testing standards and guidelines for camping and outdoor equipment. Against the background of sustainable development, the summit will spotlight applications of sustainable materials including Vietnamese manufacturing upcycling, recycled and bio-based fabrics, while interpreting EU and US sportswear regulations to help buyers understand international market requirements.
About Global Sources
Global Sources is an internationally recognized multichannel Online-to-Offline (O2O) sourcing platform that has been driving global trade for over 50 years. The company connects authentic buyers and verified suppliers worldwide with tailored solutions and trusted market intelligence through its online platform GlobalSources.com, mobile apps, industry-specific trade shows, and tailored business matching. Global Sources' unique services have successfully provided efficient and convenient commercial services to over 14 million registered international buyers and users.
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Global Sources Sports & Outdoor Officially Opens
- New framework brings together Aon's Risk Capital and Human Capital data with public sentiment analysis from Gallup to create a portfolio view of risk
- Creates further clarity into how risks compound across four megatrends, how resilience is built and activated and where targeted actions can most effectively influence performance
DUBLIN, Jan. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, announced today that it is releasing insights from a new, data-driven tool to help organizations build sustainable resilience and unlock growth: Aon's Resilience Quotient.
Developed in collaboration with Gallup, Aon's Resilience Quotient responds to a critical insight: in a time of increasing populism and fragmented sources of information, quantitative data alone is not enough to make long-term decisions. Combining public sentiment on global issues with risk and people data and analytics enables greater clarity and confidence to invest and grow amidst uncertainty and volatility.
By integrating Aon's proprietary Risk Capital and Human Capital analytics with the results of Gallup's World Poll covering 140 countries for more than 20 years, the firm's Resilience Quotient captures both objective conditions and subjective sentiment, revealing where sentiment signals hidden risks and potential opportunities to achieve greater resilience. This system-level view enables leaders to spot emerging risks sooner, prioritize resilience investments and move from reactive risk management to proactive decision-making.
"When making decisions around investment, workforce or managing geopolitical risk, a portfolio view is far superior to a siloed perspective," said Greg Case, president and CEO of Aon. "Understanding sentiment can be an opportunity signal or an early warning. Leaders who are limited to only some of the relevant metrics risk missing the signals that matter most. Aon's Resilience Quotient delivers an integrated view to help organizations act decisively, strengthen resilience and unlock sustainable growth."
Four interconnected megatrends – Trade, Technology, Weather and Workforce – are reshaping the global operating environment in ways that traditional models struggle to anticipate. Aon's Resilience Quotient provides a clearer view of the tradeoffs within these interactions: how trade volatility can amplify technology risk, how climate pressures influence workforce mobility and how sentiment can either reinforce resilience or heighten operational risk, even when the fundamentals appear strong.
To illustrate the insights from its Resilience Quotient, the firm published three case studies addressing some of the most relevant and urgent issues facing the 2026 global economy:
- Realizing the Opportunity of AI: Securing Data Center Growth
Data centers are the backbone of the digital economy and with nearly $1.3 trillion projected to be invested globally in data centers by 2030, their rapid expansion brings unprecedented risks. Aon's Resilience Quotient shows that resilience varies sharply at the sub-national level, often more than underlying risk. Within the U.S., Iowa emerges as the most resilient destination for data center development, combining very low overall risk with exceptionally strong trade and weather resilience. "Aon's Resilience Quotient shows that Iowa's resilience–risk balance is roughly twice the national median, demonstrating how governance quality, institutional confidence and preparedness materially shape long-term infrastructure outcomes," said Joe Peiser, CEO of Commercial Risk Solutions at Aon. "This underscores the opportunity for leaders who understand the combined effect of low risk, resilient trade and weather systems and a strong foundation of public trust — factors that ultimately determine where AI infrastructure can grow at scale."
DUBLIN, Jan. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, announced today that it is releasing insights from a new, data-driven tool to help organizations build sustainable resilience and unlock growth: Aon's Resilience Quotient.
Developed in collaboration with Gallup, Aon's Resilience Quotient responds to a critical insight: in a time of increasing populism and fragmented sources of information, quantitative data alone is not enough to make long-term decisions. Combining public sentiment on global issues with risk and people data and analytics enables greater clarity and confidence to invest and grow amidst uncertainty and volatility.
By integrating Aon's proprietary Risk Capital and Human Capital analytics with the results of Gallup's World Poll covering 140 countries for more than 20 years, the firm's Resilience Quotient captures both objective conditions and subjective sentiment, revealing where sentiment signals hidden risks and potential opportunities to achieve greater resilience. This system-level view enables leaders to spot emerging risks sooner, prioritize resilience investments and move from reactive risk management to proactive decision-making.
"When making decisions around investment, workforce or managing geopolitical risk, a portfolio view is far superior to a siloed perspective," said Greg Case, president and CEO of Aon. "Understanding sentiment can be an opportunity signal or an early warning. Leaders who are limited to only some of the relevant metrics risk missing the signals that matter most. Aon's Resilience Quotient delivers an integrated view to help organizations act decisively, strengthen resilience and unlock sustainable growth."
Four interconnected megatrends – Trade, Technology, Weather and Workforce – are reshaping the global operating environment in ways that traditional models struggle to anticipate. Aon's Resilience Quotient provides a clearer view of the tradeoffs within these interactions: how trade volatility can amplify technology risk, how climate pressures influence workforce mobility and how sentiment can either reinforce resilience or heighten operational risk, even when the fundamentals appear strong.
To illustrate the insights from its Resilience Quotient, the firm published three case studies addressing some of the most relevant and urgent issues facing the 2026 global economy:
"Aon's Resilience Quotient shows that Iowa's resilience–risk balance is roughly twice the national median, demonstrating how governance quality, institutional confidence and preparedness materially shape long-term infrastructure outcomes," said Joe Peiser, CEO of Commercial Risk Solutions at Aon. "This underscores the opportunity for leaders who understand the combined effect of low risk, resilient trade and weather systems and a strong foundation of public trust — factors that ultimately determine where AI infrastructure can grow at scale."
- Workforce Transformation: AI Adoption and the Next Generation Workforce
The acceleration of AI adoption is transforming the workforce, but most organizations face a critical gap between the demand for AI skills and their readiness to adapt. The Resilience Quotient highlights how workforce engagement, trust and institutional preparedness are essential to harnessing AI's potential, making resilience the key differentiator between organizations that thrive through change and those that risk falling behind. "Aon's Resilience Quotient equips leaders to navigate rapid AI change with confidence," said Lisa Stevens, chief administrative officer at Aon. "These insights help create the conditions for early‑career employees to build the skills and confidence they need — so instead of losing a generation of talent, we cultivate one that is more capable and resilient than ever."
"Aon's Resilience Quotient equips leaders to navigate rapid AI change with confidence," said Lisa Stevens, chief administrative officer at Aon. "These insights help create the conditions for early‑career employees to build the skills and confidence they need — so instead of losing a generation of talent, we cultivate one that is more capable and resilient than ever."
- Rethinking Humanitarian Finance: A New Approach to Forced Migration
Over 120 million people are currently displaced by conflict, climate and systemic crises, reshaping societies and economies worldwide. Aon's Resilience Quotient highlights Venezuela and Colombia to illustrate the tradeoffs between investing resources at the source of migration — supporting those facing institutional erosion, food insecurity and economic collapse — or directing investment to more stable countries like Colombia that are absorbing people fleeing unlivable conditions. "Forced displacement results from extreme weather and man-made disasters like conflict and economic failure," said Bridget Gainer, chief public affairs officer at Aon. "If we could leverage the forecasting and financial capability of insurance to better predict and more quickly mitigate the impact of this volatility, we could help create conditions that allow populations to remain and rebuild in their home countries."
"Forced displacement results from extreme weather and man-made disasters like conflict and economic failure," said Bridget Gainer, chief public affairs officer at Aon. "If we could leverage the forecasting and financial capability of insurance to better predict and more quickly mitigate the impact of this volatility, we could help create conditions that allow populations to remain and rebuild in their home countries."
"Resilience is not a single blueprint, it's the way systems mitigate, adapt and transform under pressure. Aon's Resilience Quotient functions as a pressure gauge, surfacing the trade‑offs and early signals that help leaders strengthen resilience where it matters most," said Joe Daly, managing partner at Gallup. "We're proud to collaborate with Aon to combine Gallup's global sentiment analytics with Aon's Risk Capital and Human Capital data, turning confidence into actionable insight."
New insights from Aon's Resilience Quotient suggest that going forward, resilience priorities will shift from static risk management to dynamic, localized strategies. As disruptions become more complex and frequent, organizations will need to tailor resilience investments to specific geographies, sectors and even sub-regional contexts. Aon's Resilience Quotient is supported with a real-time analytics and AI-enabled insights platform, built by Quantum Rise, providing deeper visibility into evolving risk and resilience signals as conditions change.
Aon and Gallup will join global decision-makers at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting to advance these critical discussions on restoring confidence and unlocking sustainable growth.
Learn more about Aon's Resilience Quotient and explore the case studies here.
About Aon
Aon plc (NYSE: AON) exists to shape decisions for the better — to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Through actionable analytic insight, globally integrated Risk Capital and Human Capital expertise, and locally relevant solutions, our colleagues provide clients in over 120 countries with the clarity and confidence to make better risk and people decisions that help protect and grow their businesses.
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** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Aon's Resilience Quotient Cuts Through Uncertainty and Volatility to Help Businesses Move from Risk to Resilience and Growth
