The Belgian sports and health company Golazo has acquired a majority stake in the Swiss company Human Sports Management AG (HSM), marking a significant step into the Swiss market.
The partnership aims to drive the growth and internationalization of HSM’s events while enabling new initiatives. For Golazo, HSM’s events represent a valuable addition to its existing portfolio. Switzerland, home to numerous international sports federations, is considered a key future market. HSM’s team, management, and operational responsibilities will remain unchanged. For partners, employees, and participants, nothing will change.
HSM: Strong Swiss foundation for continued growth
For ten years, HSM has been organizing mass participation sporting events, ranging from mountain biking and road cycling to marathons, half-marathons, and trail running races. Among its most well-known events are the OCHSNER SPORT Zurich Marathon and the Matterhorn Ultraks. Altogether, HSM hosts around 22 event days per year, attracting over 33,000 participants annually.
In addition to event organization, HSM has developed its own digital platforms, including GoActive (for event management and participant data) and the global ACTYVO app for road cyclists. HSM is also a co-owner of the start-up JAISON (GmbH), which develops high-quality bikes for young cycling enthusiasts.
Armin Meier, CEO of HSM, states: “After ten years of building the company, this step comes at just the right time. Together with Golazo, we are ready for the next big chapter. We aim to further develop mass participation sports in Switzerland, reimagine events, and make the most of synergies.”
Golazo: Mass participation specialist with Swiss ambitions
Founded 35 years ago by former Olympic athlete Bob Verbeeck, Golazo has become a leading European player in the sports and health sector – especially in mass participation sports. Just this spring, nearly 120,000 people took part in Golazo events such as the NN Marathon Rotterdam, Baloise Antwerp 10 Miles, and the European Running Championships Brussels-Leuven.
In addition to its work in mass sports, Golazo is also active in elite sport – organizing events such as the Allianz Memorial Van Damme (Diamond League Brussels), the 2024 and 2025 UCI Gravel World Championships, and acting as host for the 2026 Hockey World Cup in Belgium.
Bob Verbeeck, CEO of Golazo, comments: “We are very excited to begin this partnership around the OCHSNER SPORT Zurich Marathon and the other outstanding HSM events. For Golazo, this marks the beginning of our activities in Switzerland, with offices in Zug, Zurich, and Lausanne. Being close to so many international sports federations is a major advantage for the growth of our company. We look forward to working closely with Armin, his team, and their events.”
About Golazo
Golazo, a sports and health company founded in 1990 by Bob Verbeeck, encourages people to lead a more active and healthier lifestyle, with the ambition of contributing to a happier society. Golazo creates physical and virtual events, apps and challenges, tailor-made corporate wellbeing programs, sponsorship, marketing and communication services, media services, and athlete management. The company operates internationally, primarily in Europe and Africa. www.golazo.com
About Human Sports Management AG (HSM)
HSM is a leading agency in the DACH region for the marketing and organisation of high-quality mass sports events. HSM develops regional events focussing on the sports of running, cycling and trail running into nationally and internationally unique, successful and centrally managed mass sports platforms. Founded in 2015, the agency aims to inspire as many people as possible for sport with top-organised events (#wemoveyou). HSM organises the Skoda Swiss Bike Cup, the Cyclotour du Léman, the Sarnersee Lauf, the Aargau Half Marathon, the OCHSNER SPORT Zurich Marathon and the Matterhorn Ultraks, among others. https://humansports.ch