DECATHLON unveils its Innovation Vision to shape the Future of Sport

At DECATHLON, innovation transcends the development of products. It’s a comprehensive and continuous effort to push boundaries and envision a better future for sport globally. By combining global insights with deep local understanding, the company seeks to remove the systemic barriers that prevent people from engaging in sports.
To bring this innovation philosophy to life, DECATHLON launched four major Innovation Programs, inspired by the emerging trends in sport - “sport as a means for a thriving life”. Through these programs, they aim to democratise sport in true Decathlon style, by removing barriers, unlocking potential and bringing the practice within reach for everyone, everywhere.

1 - A LIFE OF MOVEMENT
Life’s transitions, whether injury, age, or lack of access, shouldn’t stop us from moving. This program helps everyone stay active, safely and confidently, at every stage of life.

2 - PLAYFORMANCE
Performance isn't only for professionals. With Playformance, DECATHLON makes progress and the joy of sport accessible to all, not through pressure, but through empowerment and fun.

3 - EVERYWHERE
Where sport feels out of reach, DECATHLON brings it closer. This program reimagines space, from urban streets to rural areas, as places where movement can thrive.

4 - SELF-EXPRESSION AND BELONGING
Sport should reflect every identity. This program supports inclusion and self-expression, helping everyone feel seen, valued, and at home in the world of sport.

Tom Waller, Head of Innovation, DECATHLON - “At DECATHLON, we innovate to include, to empower, and to make movement possible for everyone, in every context. It’s about making the improbable accessible, regardless of age or ability, enabling people to reach their potential, wherever they are. True innovation is not just about breakthroughs, it's about turning them into the everyday essentials of tomorrow.”

Innovation at Decathlon is a collaborative and continuous process. It thrives beyond its initial launch, developing with our users' insights and venturing into new territories.

A unique and ambitious partnership with Rheon Labs:
The company continues to push the boundaries of material science to bring innovations once reserved for elite athletes to all users. Through its bold partnership with RHEON LABS, DECATHLON gains privileged access to the full RHEON™ technology platform, including current and future innovations in strain-rate sensitive materials. At the heart of this platform lies RHEON™, a patented polymer that remains soft and flexible during everyday movement, but stiffens dynamically in response to movement or impact.
This collaboration enables the co-development of advanced apparel that enhances control, comfort, and performance during physical activity, making cutting-edge technology a daily benefit for all. By bridging elite performance and accessibility, DECATHLON and RHEON LABS are together shaping a more inclusive and durable vision for the future of sport.

Empower users with the Magic bags set:
The exploration approach is a testament to DECATHLON's commitment to sustainable and user-centric innovation. The brand focuses on empowering users with unprecedented personalization, ensuring repairability for long-term use, and significantly reducing environmental impact throughout its lifecycle. Therefore, teams are now deeply immersed in shaping the future of sports bags with the Magic Bags Set concept, and are imagining a truly modular bag, one that seamlessly adapts to users' daily lives and evolving needs. 
Decathlon’s commitment to inclusive innovation also extends to often-overlooked details that shape the sporting experience. 

Recent highlights include : 

• The Condensless tent by Simond, which limits condensation within the tent thanks to its revolutionary, patented 4 layers fabric ; 
• The Simond ultra-light MT900 backpack, highly rated for its affordability, durability, and exceptional performance; 
• The Rockrider E-Actv 100 electric bike, enhancing daily commutes and leisure rides with accessible electric-assist technology.
  

In 2025 and for the years to come, the brand will continue to place innovation at the heart of its strategy.

Celebrating iconic innovations

The iconic 2-Second tent celebrates 20 years of redefining simplicity and speed; changing accessibility to the great outdoors so that people can benefit from every 'second' in nature without having to worry about the complexity of setting up a tent.

The next tent Innovation extends that legacy to larger families and groups, bringing the accessibility and ease of camping to everybody.

Similarly, the Easybreath mask enters a new chapter with its advanced underwater version. 10 years after Easybreath’s debut, it enhances the experience of underwater exploration, bringing more freedom, safety, and discovery to aquatic sports. A dedicated team has been working for four years to enhance the experience of underwater exploration, bringing more freedom, safety, and discovery to aquatic sports.

From swimming pools to the ocean floor, it is introducing unmatched anti-fog technologies for both swimming and diving goggles. These advancements are designed to offer athletes of all levels a truly immersive experience, proof that at Decathlon, no innovation is too small when it helps people move better.

More than a roadmap, this renewed vision is a mindset that lives far beyond any product or launch. It's a movement: a long-term, human-centered force driven by curiosity, creativity, and the belief that sport can, and should, transform lives for generations to come.

A global multi-specialist sports brand catering for everyone from beginners to top athletes, Decathlon is an innovative manufacturer of sporting goods for all skill levels. With over 101,100 teammates and 1,817 stores worldwide, Decathlon and its teams have been working ever since 1976 to fulfil an ongoing ambition: Move people through the wonders of sport, to help them be healthier and happier in a sustainable future.

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