Play like a Champion.

What if public parks became training grounds? What if sports venues were brought back to life? What if you could just start playing—spontaneously, without a membership or key?

That’s the vision of Equip Sport, a Swiss startup founded in 2021, aiming to make sports accessible to all—anytime, anywhere. The idea is as simple as it is powerful: via open-access stations in public spaces, sports enthusiasts can borrow balls and other equipment free of charge through a smartphone app—and get started immediately.

Usage over Ownership as a Sustainable Concept

The sharing economy has long since arrived in many areas of life and has fundamentally changed our relationship with music, mobility, and media: away from ownership, toward goods that are always available. In the world of sport, Equip Sport is a pioneer of this transformation, applying the same disruptive thinking to physical activity. Just as music can now be streamed the moment we think of it, physical movement should also be spontaneous and barrier-free—right in the moment the desire arises.

By eliminating paywalls, memberships, and exclusivity, the startup is challenging the traditional constraints of sports participation and empowering people to be active on their own terms.

Pilot Project in Collaboration with adidas

After proving successful in over 300 locations across various European cities and regions, Equip Sport’s free-to-use stations are now coming to Germany. As part of UEFA’s “Champions Innovate” program and in collaboration with adidas, official supplier partner of the UEFA Champions League, Equip Sport is turning Munich into a vibrant, spontaneous sports arena for all. The goal of the program is to create a lasting positive impact on the city of Munich and its local communities through the UEFA Champions League Final.

“Champions Innovate supports the development of innovative solutions to key challenges faced by football and local communities. We saw great potential in the initiative by Equip Sport, in partnership with adidas, which introduced a novel way to make football more accessible to new participants. Following a successful pilot phase held in the lead-up to the 2025 UEFA Champions League final in Munich, we are excited to see how this innovative approach will contribute to long-term growth in football.” says Charles Frémont, Senior Innovation Hub Manager at UEFA.

At 30 freely accessible stations throughout the city—from Laim to Oberföhring—residents and visitors can borrow high-quality sports equipment completely free of charge, with no commitments or subscriptions. All that’s needed is a desire to move and the Equip Sport app on your smartphone.

And it’s not just any football: adidas is providing the official match ball of the UEFA Champions League 24/25 knockout phase. Designed for football’s biggest stage, this ball now brings the magic of top-tier competition into Munich’s everyday spaces—transforming parks, playgrounds, and neighborhoods into arenas of movement and community.

“We believe that through sport, we have the power to change lives. This initiative connects the inspirational stage of a UEFA Champions League Final with an accessible and innovative solution to more people playing football. Providing our UEFA Champions League Knockout Phase Ball to try in Munich means every street becomes a stadium and everyone can experience the joy of sport.” says Marc Makowski, SVP Creative Direction & Innovation at adidas.

More Than Just Sports. It’s Community and Living Culture.

Munich is entering a new era of urban sport. One where football knows no boundaries. One where games can begin anytime, anywhere—and everyone can join in. This collaborative project makes a meaningful contribution to vibrant, livable neighborhoods and a dynamic sports culture. Equip Sport’s vision is simple: a world where sport belongs to everyone and where core values like fairness, teamwork, discipline, and respect are brought to life.