From November 5th to 7th, Samara became the epicenter of the country’s sporting life. The international forum “Russia – Country of Sports”—a key industry event setting the direction for the year ahead—was held here, at the modern Samara Arena and Sports Palace. The Leko team couldn’t resist participating and became an active participant in this large-scale dialogue.
Two days of intensive work, dozens of meetings, lectures, and discussions—we immersed ourselves in the atmosphere where the future of Russian sport is being discussed. Here are the key findings we took home.
Insights: A Deep Look at Trends
The forum became a true observatory of industry trends for us. In addition to the fundamental topics of developing mass sports and training champions, we identified several key areas that resonate with our work:
Digitalization as the Foundation of Efficiency. A recurring theme throughout all the discussions was the need for deep integration of digital solutions—from big data analysis for training management to the creation of smart sports facilities. We were convinced that our approaches to creating effective and technologically advanced solutions are in line with the overall trend.
Sports without Borders: Inclusion and Adaptation. Particular attention was paid to the development of adaptive and Paralympic sports. This is not simply a social responsibility, but a powerful area requiring specialized infrastructure and methodological solutions. We saw great potential for human-centered design here. We have always made accessibility of sports for everyone one of our key goals.
Focus on Legacy. Increasingly, the focus is not only on mega-events, but also on their sustainable legacy: how sports facilities will operate after the competitions and how to integrate them into the urban environment. This approach is fully consistent with our vision of creating multifunctional and sustainable facilities.
The forum is a unique opportunity to observe all the main trends in just a few days. We saw that digitalization is penetrating every corner of sports: from large federations to local sections. But the main conclusion we confirmed for ourselves is that, despite the general trend, the lack of simple and convenient digital tools for coaches and athletes remains acute.
Networking: The Power of Professional Connections
One of the forum’s key benefits was the concentration of key industry players in one venue. We were able to communicate with:
Heads of regional sports federations, discussing their pressing infrastructure needs and challenges.
Representatives of government agencies overseeing the implementation of state sports development programs. We identified avenues for potential collaboration within these initiatives.
Fellow architects and designers leading sports projects across Russia. The exchange of experiences and discussion of common professional challenges proved incredibly productive.
Manufacturers of sports equipment and technological solutions. These contacts allow us to form reliable partnerships for future projects.
Conclusions: From insights to action
Summing up our visit to Samara, we can confidently say: the forum provided a powerful impetus for Leko’s development. And further confirmation that we’re on the right path in building an app—a sports ecosystem.
We’re on the right track. The problems we solve are real and relevant to thousands of professionals across the country.
Community is everything. We’ve once again proven that strength lies in unity. Creating an environment where coaches from different sports can support each other is one of our key goals.
Moving forward. We’ve returned with new ideas, contacts, and inspiration. We’ve brought back every question and suggestion you’ve sent us and will use it as we work on the app.
The Leko Team
