The Generalitat has joined leading figures from the running, trail, and cycling sectors at the Sport Impact Valencia 2026 forum, aiming to drive closer collaboration, innovation, and long-term business growth across the regional sports industry.
Organised by the Sports Cluster of the Valencian Community in partnership with the Generalitat, the gathering brought together commercial firms, public institutions, major event promoters, and industry specialists. The primary focus was to examine ways to bolster the competitiveness of a sector that has established itself as a national benchmark for organising events, expanding business, and attracting sports tourism, according to Director General of Sports Luis Cervera.
Discussions centred on case studies and operational insights from some of the most prominent sporting fixtures staged across the region. These included the Valencia Marathon, which attracts upwards of 35,000 runners annually, the internationally recognised Penyagolosa Trails mountain races, and the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, a staple of the professional road cycling season. Cervera noted that these competitions play a major role in driving the regional economy, creating commercial opportunities across multiple sectors, and raising the international profile of the Valencian Community.
Cervera further observed that running, trail running, and cycling serve as effective mechanisms for economic expansion, regional promotion, and commercial opportunity. He pointed out that the Valencian Community offers ideal conditions to support ongoing development across these disciplines, combining established fixtures and modern urban and natural landscapes with an innovative local business network.
The forum also highlighted the achievements of regional companies that have secured positions in domestic and overseas markets. Representatives from firms including Lurbel, Oliva Nova, 42K Running, and Vicky Foods shared details regarding their commercial growth within the sporting sphere.
A subsequent session explored the future of endurance events, featuring contributions from Teika, Transvia Sport, Bluease, and the European University of Valencia. Speakers addressed key industry themes, including environmental sustainability, emerging technological tools, event administration, and market trends likely to shape the sector over coming years. Cervera underlined that events such as Sport Impact Valencia help build vital connections between private enterprises, race organisers, governing bodies, and research institutions to manage future industry demands.
Director General of Entrepreneurship and Internationalisation Mónica Payá outlined the Ministry of Industry’s measures to help sports businesses access foreign markets. These efforts include backing regional participation in major international trade events, such as the FIBO fair held in Cologne in 2025 and the upcoming National Running Show in the United Kingdom.
Bringing the event to a close, Director General of Industry Julio Delgado affirmed the administration’s backing for sports commerce, describing it as a strategic area owing to its capacity for innovation, employment generation, and industrial value. Delgado stated that the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Innovation and Commerce allocated over 529,000 euro in support grants for investment projects amongst sports small and medium-sized enterprises this year. In addition, the Sports Industry Cluster received backing to strengthen the regional sector network, alongside Ivace+i funding schemes that provided 74,750 euro across the 2025 and 2026 financial years to support further growth.