The congress addressed three key themes recognised as critical for addressing physical activity at local, national and international levels:

1. Addressing inequalities within and through physical activity
2. Evidence into practice to achieve population change
3. Physical activity and the wider determinants of health

In line with previous ISPAH congresses and recognising the need for joined up solutions, there was a concerted and successful effort to bring together academics, practitioners and policy makers to challenge each other and discuss collaborative approaches for a joined-up approach to increase physical activity.

By all metrics the Congress was a success and exceeded its objectives, e.g.:

• Quantity of content – 146 oral presentations, 52 symposia orals, 263 oral e-poster presentations and 290 e-posters across the themes selected by the Scientific Committee
• Quality of content – e.g. 89% rated congress very good/good and 95% thought range of topics very good/good
• Representative participation – Over 1,100 delegates from 59 countries with increased representation across academia, policy and practice compared to previous Congresses
• Increasing understanding and collaboration – e.g. 83% delegates increased their understanding of how research, policy and practice can work together and 74% made new networks for collaboration

The Congress booklet is available online and much of the content is available on the Congress website and abstracts were published in a special supplement of the Journal of Physical Activity and Health.