Organisers of OptiMunich were quick to exploit the announcement of the end of Optica, the rival German optical event staged in Cologne (see page 6). The end of Optica means that next year Ð an Optrafair year Ð there will be one less European optical show.In just four years the Munich fair has overtaken its more senior Cologne-based rival to take centre stage as the pre-eminent optics show in Germany.An emailed statement by the Munich show organiser OK Messen, sent to the worldwide optical press a few days after OpticaÕs demise, crowed: ÔThe Cologne fair could not match the new standards and marketing tools brought to the market by OptiMunich with its professionalÉeffective team.ÕOK Messen stated that Rodenstock, Luxottica and De Rigo would appear at the next OptiMunich in January 2003. Dr Arno Jager, managing director of OK Messen, announced: ÔOptiMunich is now the only international optics and eyewear exhibition north of the Alps where opticians and ophthalmologists can find a comprehensive range of products.ÕOptiMunich will take place from January 10-12, and Optrafair from April 12-14 2003.u See Comment, page 13.