Case Studies

The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) officially opened “Home Plate” on July 2020, its new headquarters in Switzerland, designed with sustainability at its heart. The move follows the merger in 2013 of the International Baseball Federation and the International Softball Federation and the acquisition in 2018 of the building which, after a complete renovation, now hosts its joint federation.

Seeking to leave a positive legacy for its community, sustainability was embedded in every step of the planning, conditioning and intended use of its new headquarters.

Twenty-four roof top photovoltaic panels, with a power output of 12 kilowatts, provide approximately 10% of the building’s electricity needs with the goal of increasing the capacity to cover 100% of its needs by 2025. The underfloor heating and cooling system use hot and cold water to maintain an ideal office climate, whilst all walls have been insulated with high density stone wool allowing temperatures to be maintained for up to 20 hours after the system has been switched off. The same stone wool increases fire resistance and acoustic comfort. All the lighting is made with LED technology and occupancy sensors to keep energy consumption levels to a minimum. The interior Saint-Gobain glass walls and doors feature fire resistant Ei-60 glass - double of the requirement by law.

BENEFITS

• The WBSC now has a sustainable, state-of-the-art permanent headquarters to allow for further, and conscious, growth.
• The new headquarters have significantly improved the working environment and team spirit amongst the staff.
• The sustainability of the building is a source of inspiration to the staff to come up with their own ideas for making their working environment even more sustainable.

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As Sustainable As Possible (ASAP) is a European based, National Olympic Committees’ (NOCs) mentorship and development programme on sustainability matters. Building bridges among organisations, the programme which started in 2020 and will span over a three-year period, is aimed to guide mentees into the creation of integrated sustainability strategies while giving mentors the chance to refine their own.

The ASAP consortium is comprised of six NOCs who will collaborate on a mentorship relationship. The German Olympic Sports Confederation, the National Olympic Committee and Sport Confederation of Denmark and the Finnish Olympic Committee serve as mentors to the Slovak Olympic and Sport Committee, the Hungarian Olympic Committee and the Czech Olympic Committee, who also serves as the coordinator for this project. The programme is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, supported by the IOC and is in close cooperation with the European NOC Sustainability Working group that gathers 12 European entities.

OBJECTIVES
The ASAP project was established in order to:

• Build tangible collaborations between NOCs through mentoring.
• Facilitate the path for mentees to create, adapt and implement integrated sustainability strategies in their organisations while mentors can further improve their operations through the sharing of knowledge.
• Build leadership by exemplary sustainability action both in sports and the broader community

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Click here for more information about ASAP

World Triathlon, part of UNEP and IOC Clean Seas since 2018 and signatory of the UN Sports for Climate Action framework, has now taken a step further by creating guidelines aimed at its Local Organising Committees (LOCs). The goal is to provide guidance on best sustainable practices to be taken into consideration during the planning, and staging, of an event.
World Triathlon encourages organisers of all sizes to start with an assessment of their carbon footprint to establish a baseline and identify areas that might need to be prioritised. Regardless of their level of experience, organisers can then access a step by step guide to develop their own sustainability plans through a comprehensive approach across fifteen categories.
The proposed strategic areas cover a broad range of topics such as governance, staffing, mobility, waste and water management and biodiversity, among others. Each of them has then been linked to specific action points that event organisers can set in motion includingeighteen must have items, thirty-three recommended actions and seven aspirational elements.

The new guidelines also serve as a framework to their newly launched World Triathlon Sustainability certification system for 2021. Through the development of a sustainability plan and later execution, LOCs can achieve three levels of recognition which they will have to validate on a yearly basis.

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The postponed 2020 Finals of the Billie Jean King Cup will see women share the largest annual fund in women’s team sports equalling the amount awarded in the men’s competition.

However, whilst the pay-gap in elite tennis is closed in terms of prize money and tennis performs well in terms of global participation with 47% female participants, significant off court challenges remain: 20% of coaches and 22% of certified officials are women, and female representation on ITF’s board sits at only 18%.

A 2020 ITF leadership survey highlighted the importance of female role models as one of the most important factors influencing women as they develop their careers. With the goal of increasing the number of women on and off the court, including those in decision making and leadership roles, ITF established the Gender Equality in Tennis Committee (originally called the Women in Sport Committee) in 2017 chaired by USTA president and ITF Vice President Katrina Adams. The following year, with the support of the Foundation for Global Sports Development (GSD), the Advantage All programme was launched including enhanced funding for workshops, education and professional development for up and coming female leaders, including coaches and officials.

BENEFITS
• Having a gender equality strategy establishes clear objectives and targets for an organisation and its stakeholders to advance gender equality.
• The development of female leadership facilitates sustainable change in closing the gender gap and achieving equal representation.
• Ensuring equal opportunity in sport maximises commercial opportunities.

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The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) launched an online carbon calculation tool for their own federation as well as for their stakeholders, in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and following the implementation of the FIA Environmental Accreditation Programme.
The ‘FIA carbon calculation tool’, provided by Global Climate Initiatives, has been specifically adapted to the motorsport industry and will allow any of the accredited stakeholders to calculate their carbon footprint. After the calculation, FIA can step in and support the users in designing a reduction plan to take concrete actions to reduce their emissions.
The tool will serve as a supportive option to the FIA Environmental Accreditation Programme and is planning to, in its first year, assist approximately 40 Three-Star level Accreditation stakeholders gain insights on their footprint and plan for carbon neutrality.

Benefits:
By obtaining insights on the environmental performance of their stakeholders, FIA can cater to them in order to:
• Prrovide them with support in understanding their carbon footprint and becoming climate neutral.
• Maximise the impact of the programmes by defining priority areas where more attention and education is needed in order to reduce emissions.
• Establish benchmarks and goals for motorsports.

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In April 2020, World Athletics launched its Sustainability Strategy for 2020-2030. The ten-year strategy is set to provide a framework to the organisation, its Member Federations and its event organisers on how to produce tangible, meaningful and measurable results on environmental, social and economic sustainability. The main objective is to protect the local communities within which the millions of athletes, both competitive and recreational, participate in the sport with the vision of becoming “the leading International Sports Federation in delivering best in class sustainable events”.

The World Athletics strategy has been designed in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the IOC Sustainability Strategy and identifies three spheres of responsibility: World Athletics as an organisation (including its Member Federations), the events owned by World Athletics, and those which hold a World Athletics’ Permit or are licensed events.

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As an international organisation, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) takes its responsibility to protect, cherish and limit its impact on the environment seriously. FIFA aims to lead by example and inspire greater awareness and best practices in sustainability standards with regard to FIFA World Cups™ and FIFA as an organisation.
Since 2010, FIFA has been measuring, reducing and mitigating its impact on climate change as well as engaging with its stakeholders to promote awareness on climate change.

OBJECTIVES
Since 2010, FIFA has engaged in carbon management to improve the sustainability of its operations and events by:

• Estimating the carbon emissions of
  FIFA competitions.
• Implementing reduction measures,
• Offsetting its controlled and
  unavoidable emissions.
• Engaging with stakeholders to help
  raise awareness on climate change.

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Click here to download FIFA Background Paper

World Sailing (WS) has created a 'Special Event Sustainability Charter', a comprehensive list of sustainability requirements for the largest sailing events in the world that World Sailing sanctions. WS is a participant of the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework and a partner of the IOC and UN Environment on campaigns related to Ocean Health including the Clean Seas initiative fighting plastic pollution in our oceans.
The Special Event Charter was launched in 2019 with the support of their Special Event. Sail GP, which, together with The Ocean Race and World Match Racing Tour are among the first signatories. While all special events can sign up voluntarily at any stage, all 'Special Events' will eventually be contractually obliged to sign when their contracts are due for renewal.

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World Rowing has set new sustainability goals for 2020-2024 with an updated and comprehensive approach to sustainability.
After a pledge to protect world heritage sites designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO),a partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to protect fresh water around the world, and joining the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, the federation is going beyond the environmental focus to include social aspects within their sustainability targets.
As defined by World Rowing, the intention is to shift from a “preserve & protect” focus to “enhance” and pursue a positive impact on the ecosystems and communities in which they operate.

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Over the last 20 years, France has been the host to 55 international competitions, climbing to the podium of the top three countries for hosting major world sporting events. Building on the national expertise, the French Ministry of Sports, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) France, and close to 80 organisers of sporting events signed a charter of 15 eco-responsible commitments to achieve the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games legacy goals.
As part of their commitment to create tools to help stakeholders carry out the transition into sustainability in sports, the French O National Olympic and Sports committee (CNOSF), with support of the IOC, has launched a dedicated platform to share best practices on sustainable development. The platform for “environmental excellence through sport” or RSO (Social Responsibility of Sports Organisations) is a call for all stakeholders in the sports movement to structure and promote their approach to sustainability.

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On the 2020 World Ocean Day, World Sailing presented a wide-reaching sustainability education programme in line with the federation’s Sustainability Agenda 2030 goal to broaden the knowledge of all sailors on sustainability issues which relate to their sport. This includes recognising the elements that can affect the sport and those which, in some cases, the sport can positively contribute to.
The Sustainable Education Programme was developed by the federation together with The Ocean Race and in partnership with the World Sailing Trust and 11th Hour Racing,
capitalising on the success of their own programme in the 2017-2018 edition of the race.
This new programme is tailored to age groups 6-8yrs, 8-10yrs and 10-12yrs to be delivered at a grass roots level in order to create awareness among the younger sailor groups and inform better choices.

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The world governing body for cycling became the first sports federation to receive the EDGE Certification Seal for gender equality on 23 October 2019.
After conducting a detailed internal assessment and undergoing an independent third-party verification process where the organization stands in terms of gender balance across a variety of metrics, the UCI obtained Edge Assess, the first of three-tiered levels.
The UCI is currently working toward the second level of certification, EDGE Move.
The next steps of the process include defining and implementing internal policies concerning:

• Work flexibility
• Promotion of diversity and integration
• Pay equity
• Prevention of all form of harassment in the workplace

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The International Surfing Association (ISA) formally acknowledged sustainability as a core value of the federation on World Environment Day 2018 as part of their pledge to the IOC and UN Clean Seas
campaign.

As an organisation with strong ties to the ocean, the ISA looks to inspire, educate and empower surfing communities around the world to become ambassadors of the ocean and sustainability.

Through the ISA World Championships, the federation found a unique opportunity to engage their athletes, National Federations, organising committees, and sponsors in their commitment to sustainability. Through education and empowerment, the federation has focused on three areas:

• Reducing plastic waste
• Alignement of commitment to sustainability
• Athlete engagement in sustainability initiatives and educational programmes for ocean conservation

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World Archery, a signatory of the UN Sports for Climate Action framework, has embarked on a mission to reassess their operations to find ways in which daily decisions and actions are contributing factors to a more sustainable sport.
At a federation level, every action can have a direct impact but also hold a highly symbolic power and deliver a strong message of awareness and motivation to all stakeholders.
World Archery’s impact assessment has identified, and therefore set their focus on, three key areas:

• Water
• Transportation
• Waste management

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World Rugby launched its “Accelerating the Global Development of Women in Rugby 2017-2025" development strategy in order to position itself as a global leader in sport where women have equity on and off the field with representation and participation across all levels of rugby by 2025.
The strategy is built around five pillars:

• Sustainable growth in participation: continuing successful grassroot programs such as "Get into Rugby” for entry level and the development of coaches, match officials and medical staff to accommodate for this growth and developing toolkits, such as the Women Coaching Rugby Toolkit, to support member federations in growing female participation across the sport.
• High Performance Quality Competitions: ensuring the sport can deliver high-quality competitions at every level and across all different formats of the sport with a high entertainment value. The focus is set on both domestic and international competitions.
• Inspirational Leadership on and off the field: mandating that World Rugby’s board, committees, working groups and senior management levels should reflect best practices in terms of female representations
• Profile with Impact Inspiring Engagement: working to attract female viewers and fans through marketing and media initiatives using communication across the board and enhancing the portrayal of women in rugby on all communication platforms.
• Strategic Sustainable Investment Partners: ensuring economic sustainability by focusing on new revenue streams and creating new long-term commercial and non-commercial partnerships to support the development and profitability of women in rugby and maximizing the commercial value of the sport by ensuring broadcasting visibility through all commercial deals.

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When it comes to the selection of Olympic equipment, International Federations (IFs) can mandate suppliers and have a positive influence across the sports goods and equipment industry. As part of the 2024 Olympic equipment selection, World Sailing decided to add sustainability as a criteria within the evaluation process as an opportunity to impact the wider marine industry.
While all of World Sailing Olympic equipment contracts require that companies operate in accordance with the IOC Supplier Code, the new requirements include the existence of a company sustainability policy, a life cycle assessment of the product, ISO 14001 certification and an environmental improvement programme.
The board-sports industry is a huge impactor to the environment through all the materials used, production processes and raw material extraction. Added to this is the amount of different types of plastics used to make the boards. There are on average seven different types of materials, making it almost impossible to recycle.
One of the windsurf board manufacturers,
Starboard, stood out with an existing strong sustainability offering within their products.
As part of their bid, the supplier demonstrated how they could reduce the environmental footprint from the production of the equipment. They did this by conducting a Life Cycle Assessment of their products, as well as a plastic and carbon footprint assessment at the company level and taking measures to reduce the footprint.

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FIH welcomes the development and launch of the latest and one of the most sustainable hockey trufs ever used in international competitions. Pollgras Tokyo GT, a new pitch incorporating bioplastics, will be used during the Tokyo Olympic Games contributing to the vision of a carbon-neutral event. The surface also brings two third less water compared to previous surfaces.

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Since the launch of its guidance document – Active Travel Guidance for Sports Stadia – in May 2019, Healthy Stadia has been working with a number of pioneering European clubs and stadia operators on the development of case studies offering further insight into the promotion of walking and cycling to sports stadia. The first of these case studies to be published is from colleagues at KAA Gent, profiling a comprehensive active travel strategy that has been led by their Football in the Community department. Based at the newly built Ghelamco Arena (20,000 capacity), the club has a serious commitment to active travel, and has developed a major mobility programme for supporters over the last three years, promoting: walking, cycling park and ride shuttle busses, regional bus routes for supporters, and, carpool parking spaces near to the stadium. Under the campaign title, ‘Cycling Buffalo’s’, KAA Gent have been able to install 2838 permanent cycle locking stalls, with another 600 mobile stalls, with an average of +15% of KAA Gent supporters coming to the Arena by bicycle – see below to download the full case study. Healthy Stadia will be publishing a second active travel case study that has been developed with Gdansk Letnica Stadium in the December edition of our newsletter, whilst we invite any stadium operators and/or clubs who are interested in showcasing their own work on active travel to contact us for further details on developing a case study.

In cooperation with its floorball material sponsor, UNIHOC, the IFF provides floorball equipment to countries where floorball is in its early stages, and also to existing IFF Member Associations based on a needs assessment. Equipment support comes in the form of sticks, balls, goalkeeper equipment and rinks.

The IFF launched the Development Programme in 2005 in order to support and develop the organisation and the activities of the Member Associations. Any Member Association can apply for organising a seminar.

The IFF Floorball Development Seminar (FDS) is built on three different blocks: Organisation, Coaching, and Refereeing. Each block aims to give additional knowledge to the associations and assist them in planning and managing development in their country. The seminar is a three day event consisting of theoretical lectures, practical training sessions, group work, and hands-on training and observation. During the last years the seminars have mainly been carried out in coaching and refereeing blocks.

Here you can find the instructions and guidelines how to apply and how to organise a Floorball Development Seminar, as well as the next seminars.

GoGirls! Floorball is the IFF project aimed at helping to increase and promote the participation of girls and women in floorball throughout the world.

he IFF aims to provide guidance on the different challenges faced by girls in obtaining access to participation in sport, and to help break down those barriers within the international floorball family.

The key factors for the project are :

• Getting girls to play
• Teaching girls to play
• Keeping girls playing

The IFF, in conjunction with several of our Member Associations, has produced materials that can be used by individuals, clubs, local organisations or National Associations to help develop their girl's floorball programmes. In this section you can find a more detailed description as well as links to material for anyone to access.

In 2019, the World Association of Kickboxing (WAKO) supported a campaign to sensibilise it's community about cancer, jarzmikand to support the Wako athlete Paulina Jarzmik.

A communication plan has been setup, and a dedicated merchandising campaign has been developped as well.

Football is the number one sport in Germany. Millions of fans follow the matches every weekend: live in the stadium, in front of the TV or in the summary in the evening. The clubs in the 1st Bundesliga have long since ceased to be sports clubs.Football not only moves people, but also enormous sums of euros. And this is precisely where the present imug study comes in : For a long time now, companies have been called upon to take on corporate social responsibility (CSR). This responsibility must also be faced by football clubs, which have long since ceased to operate as charitable associations and are now generating millions of euros. It is not only about sporting success on the pitch.

VfL Wolfsburg has traditionally had very close ties with society and, like traditional business enterprises, bears responsibility towards it (Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR). The association is aware of this responsibility for the effects of its actions on people and the environment and has therefore firmly anchored CSR in its self-image. Nationally and internationally, it wants to be perceived as a responsible player and thus take a leading position in professional football. Sustainability and CSR reporting is a central communication tool for the club. Its most important addressees include fans, employees, partners and sponsors of VfL and Volkswagen AG. It also addresses non-governmental organisations and interest groups as well as representatives of politics, science and research. Here is an overview of sustainability programme VfL Wolfsburg including report (2016) that was published in compliance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines

E-book, developed by Right Hub, with good practices of the motorsport sector about manufacturing, fundraising, donation, supplying devices of protection and services. This e-book is divided according to the different stakeholders involved: organizers, teams, racers, sponsors, suppliers, partners, racetracks and car and motorcycle companies engaged in racing.

In the aim of pursuing the objective of the sharks preservation, the project has set out different kind of activities. Sometimes, they concerned concrete actions of preservation that entailed the involvement and the cooperation of sport anglers and professional fishermen, other times they were however aimed at raising the big public’s awareness and sensibility regarding the importance of sharks in the aquatic ecosystems. The complex of actions raised by the project, which preview, among the others, training activities with seminars and workshops and the use of different kind of communication, like permanent and itinerant exhibitions and a web site, is devoted to preserve sharks and other cartilaginous species and to cancel from the collective imagination the idea of sharks as “men eater machines”, which was alimented by many books and commercial movies.

The Australian Conservation Foundation and the Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub conducted a research on the impact of extreme heat on Australian cricket, and the opportunities to take effective climate actions

The Champ Camp, Jordan’s first Olympic Weightlifting school, aims to build inclusion and empower youth in the Palestinian Refugee Camp, Al-Baqa’. It provides an escape for the youth in that region to stay away from drugs, violence, and other consequences of poverty.

One of the busiest arenas in the world, Air Canada Centre holds an average of 180 ticketed events with 2.75 million attendees coming through the building each year. Beginning in 2008, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), owners of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Toronto Raptors, and Air Canada Centre, launched “Team Up Green,” a five-year plan that set environmental goals for the arena. The sustainability plan specifically set goals to reduce energy use by 30 percent, reduce the arena’s carbon footprint by 30 percent, and divert 95 percent of waste from landfills by 2013—and they are close to meeting these goals.

The Bell Centre is the only professional sports venue in North America to be awarded three independent environmental certifications: LEED Silver for Existing Buildings (EBOM), ISO 14001, and Quebec’s ICI ON RECYCLE Level Three (the highest level). On October 13, 2009, the Canadiens became the first NHL team with a LEED-certified home arena and the first to achieve the LEED Silver level. A month later the Canadiens were also awarded the International Organization for Standardization’s 14001 certification for implementing an environmental management system (EMS). Three years later, the Canadiens are still expanding their green work, including planned renewal of their LEED EBOM certification in 2014.

The St. Louis Cardinals are one of the most award- winning teams in baseball. Since they joined the National League in 1892, the Cardinals have won 11 World Series Championships, 18 National League Pennants, 8 National League Central Division Titles, 3 National League Eastern Division Titles, and more than 9,300 games. The Cardinals have also been earning accolades for their green efforts, including the St. Louis Green Business Challenge Award of Achievement, the Missouri Waste Coalition Environmental Stewardship Award, and the Downtown St. Louis Community Improvement Sustainability Award.

Thanks to the widespread public and professional interest in sustainability in the Northwest, environmental stewardship was built into CenturyLink Field even before the first U.S. sports greening programs were established. Back in 2000, 35 percent of the concrete from the Kingdome was recycled onsite to construct Seahawks Stadium (which has since been renamed “CenturyLink Field”).

The Philadelphia Eagles have been pioneers in the greening of professional sports operations and supply chains since establishing their Go Green program, with the help of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), back in 2003. From switching to recycled paper products nearly a decade ago to installing the most extensive onsite renewable system of any U.S. sports stadium in 2012, the Eagles work to promote the social, ecological and financial benefits of going green.

Since opening in the spring of 2000, AT&T Park has been home to the San Francisco Giants Major League Baseball team, which owns and operates the facility. The ballpark doubles as a venue for concerts, corporate programs and other sporting events, including pro soccer games, collegiate football games, and even big-air ski and snowboard contests. From day one the Giants have made environmental stewardship a business priority at the park by integrating sustainability into their company mission and operations. AT&T Park was the first major league ballpark to install a solar array and the first to receive LEED Silver Certification for existing buildings: operations and maintenance (EBOM). The Giants also divert the most waste from landfill of any professional sports venue in North America, with an 85.2 percent diversion rate for 2011. Here are some lessons from their greening successes to date.

The NBA began working with NRDC’s sports greening project in 2007 to enhance the environmental profile of the league. NRDC and NBA launched the league’s greening initiative by creating an environmental policy statement that established the league’s goal to improve their environmental performance, and presented their sustainability initiative as an institutional priority.

As part of its commitment to environmental stewardship, the National Hockey League joined forces with NRDC on sustainability initiatives in 2008. This web-based resource offers environmental guidance and strategies to promote more sustainable practices for NHL team and arena operations.

This paper demonstrates how the ‘Ecological Footprint’ has been used to measure the environmental sustainability of the UK’s Football Association (FA) Cup Final. This approach provides valuable insights into the global environmental impacts generated by visitor consumption patterns. The paper also demonstrates how this tool can support policymakers and event organizers in staging sustainable events through the development and assessment of policy scenarios.

The Green Ambassadors Program, with the support and mentorship of City and School District Staff, develops and initiates environmental stewardship projects in schools and the community and participate in a variety of community activities throughout the year, namely promoting waste diversion during events.

Development of a sustainable event programme for the City of Richmond with the objective promote sustainable event management and empower local sport and event organizations to host sustainable community events.

The Richmond Olympic Oval, home to the long track speed skating during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, organised a sustainability expo for regional sport and cultural events.

The Republic of Sports is an initiative to empower and integrate Lausanne based refugees through sport. A group of local refugees teamed up with local (Swiss) youth to volunteer at the Lausanne 2020 Youth Olympic Games.

A study on all the Olympic houses for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games. The booklet contains on a series of initiatives from national and sponsor houses, using the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework.

This booklet outlines several initiatives that seeks to engage the wider audience on sustainability and legacy. It contains easy-to-understand, positive stories that were collected by the AISTS during the Games. Leaving aside the complexity and challenges of organising Olympic Games for a moment, it puts the spotlight on examples that show the concrete positive impact of the Games.

Video from IOC Young Leader Pedro from Brazil and the Ski Na Rua project

Video from IOC Young Leader Paulina Fritz, organising the Youth Olympic Day in Senegal

Video from IOC Young Leader Ana (Moldova) about the Women's Karatedo Festival - a social and sport event for girls and women organized by the National Karatedo Federation of the Republic of Moldova (W.K.F.) on the occasion of the International Women's Day.

The main goal of the Sport for Sustainable Development project is to create a platform for the transfer of knowledge in the field of sustainable development through sport between three continents (Europe, Asia and Africa).

A solar array consisting of 1,652 panels produces 41 percent of the facility’s energy. The raceway features a number of concessions locations that highlight local and environmentally preferable food options. In conjunction with the garden project, Levy restaurants composts some of their organic food waste onsite to produce natural fertilizer for their garden.

First stadium in Major League Baseball to be powered 100 percent by renewable energy. When the team moved into this new ballpark, they focused on healthy and vegetarian food options for the fans. Food is locally sourced when it can be and all serviceware is made from compostable renewable resources.

The 2019 US Open marks the 12th year of its environmental initiatives program aimed at creating a more sustainable future. And in each of those 12 years, the Open has raised its game in lowering its impact on the global environment.

KiSS Mugello is the environmental and social sustainability programme of the Italian Grand Prix of MotoGP, an initiative that engages everyone: teams, riders, spectators, fans, enterprises, sponsors, the community and non-profit organizations.

VfL Wolfsburg is conscious of its corporate responsibility towards people and the environment. It has therefore firmly embedded CSR into its credo in order to be seen as a leading player nationally and internationally in professional football. The club produces an extensive report to this end every four years, with the most recent one coming in 2016. VfL also provides an update on the status of its CSR activities at the halfway point of this cycle in a more condensed form.

Corpus Christi Yacht Club created this Sustainability Event Plan to provide guidelines and resources for other organizations in Corpus Christi to run more sustainable events - reduce the use of plastics and reduce the amount of waste generated during public events.

The City of Richmond's has developed and purchased portable water stations for use at various community events in Richmond, The five mobile water dispensing stations are made available for event organizers to encourage smart water choices while also providing a free sustainable alternative to single-use disposable water bottles.

In 2009, the City of Richmond implemented a volunteer software system and database called iCanHelp which manages and streamlines the process of volunteer recruitment, management, and retention. iCanHelp program provides the public with an online system that allows them to explore various volunteer opportunities available

The City of Richmond developed a sample program for fully compostable food service utensils. Working with event organizers and third-party food management agencies, food vendors that attend City of Richmond events can request samples of fully compostable wooden cutlery and paper straws.

The Wheel Watch Bike Valet program (Wheel Watch) to provide safe and secure bike and stroller parking at City of Richmond community events.

The year 2017 will go down as a key milestone in the development of Mexican football. Following a period of hard work and meticulous planning, one of the most significant steps forward has been the launch of a brand new national women’s football tournament, the Liga MX Femenil.

Football in India received a massive boost last year as the FIFA U-17 World Cup was welcomed by enormous crowds and huge interest across the world’s second largest nation. With that major landmark ticked off, attention has now focused on further developing women’s football in this sprawling and diverse nation of 1.3 billion people.

Up until 2016, only six professional clubs in the country’s first and second divisions operated youth teams for players aged between 12 and 18, all of them based in Lima. In the rest of the country, meanwhile, there was no professional structure in place for training youngsters of those ages.

After finishing third at the 2018 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship, Haiti secured their place at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup France 2018, where they will shortly be rubbing shoulders with such giants of the women’s game as USA, Japan, Germany and Nigeria.

Sustainable Golf Development helps define a clear vision and focussed decision-making for golf development projects. It provides perspective and clarity during detailed site organisation and design discussions.

Eco-Games organises activities in France that teach about the development of sustainable projects. The games strive for absolute minimalism both in terms of support structures and organizational dynamics; in other words, why do "with" if you can do "without"? They also aim to maximize the use of existing local resources, and their mutual benefits.

Spercheiada Half- Marathon is a road race to implement a sustainability policy in its event execution. The organizing committee made an environmental commitment announcing its mission to reduce the negative impacts that the race would have on the surrounding landscape in addition to raising environmental awareness in the local community.

The professional sports industry includes some of the world’s most iconic, inspirational and influential organizations. In a cultural shift of historic proportions, the sports industry is now using its influence to advance ecological stewardship. North America’s professional leagues, teams and venues have collectively saved millions of dollars by shifting to more efficient, healthy and ecologically intelligent operations. At the same time, the sports greening movement has brought important environmental messages to millions of fans worldwide. Sport is a great unifier, transcending political, cultural, religious and socioeconomic barriers. It also wields a uniquely powerful influence, both cultural and economic, that provides much- needed leadership in sustainable practices and, in so doing, promotes a nonpolitical public commitment to environmental protection.

The Goal in Green is a series of programs aimed at reducing its ecological footprint by going green and adapt its practices and resources towards an environmental change and encourage its important fan base to follow in its footsteps.

The San Francisco 49ers’ new stadium is the first professional football stadium in the United States to achieve LEED Gold certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s New Construction standard. Environmentally intelligent features at Levi’s Stadium include a 27,000-square-foot green roof, efficient lighting and plumbing fixtures, high-efficiency HVAC systems, recycled building materials, electric vehicle charging stations, public transit access, and bicycle parking. Their other main focus is providing greener food to their fans through their menu options along with organic and local ingredients.

A lot of football's beauty is its simplicity: Two goals – made of anything from empty bottles to school bags – and a ball is all you need. But few would argue against the fact that better facilities will breed better results in the long run. The Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ), are pursuing just that having opted to install a new series of pitches up and down the country to improve the nation's training infrastructure. These new 40m x 20m pitches will primarily benefit youth sports teams and schools, with the schools using the pitches in the mornings before the clubs, including those from neighbouring towns, take over the facilities in the afternoons and evenings

The Football Association of Iceland (KSI) has never known anything like it. These days, barely a day goes by without a packed reception at its Reykjavik HQ, as administrators and coaches from around the world descend. All arrive in search of the same answer: how does this tiny country punch so spectacularly, and consistently, above its weight?

he Tajikistan Football Federation will continue with their TFF Academy project, with the funds secured via the FIFA Forward 2.0 programme. The TFF project has already helped the Tajikistan U-17 national team reach the final of the 2018 AFC U-16 Championship and secure qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup just for the second time in their history.

Recently, a FIFA delegation representing the member associations (MA) division paid a visit to the Bhutan Football Federation (BFF) to host a meeting with several Member Associations originating from the AFC region – among them were represented the football associations of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Guam, India, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.

Football is the most popular sport in Turkey, where the first football league was established in 1904. Nowadays, with the support of the FIFA Forward programme, sustainable football development is becoming a reality in this huge country covering approximately 780,000 km2 and straddling two continents.

In Benin, there are innumerable opportunities to gather together around football.
It is not uncommon to witness scenes of jubilation in the streets whenever the national team - also known as Les Écureuils (The Squirrels) - finds the back of their opponents’ goal nets.
Having qualified for three recent CAF Africa Cup of Nations in 2004, 2008 and 2010, the dream of a first FIFA World Cup™ qualification for the vibrant West African team seems within reach.

From 11 to 12 December representatives of FIFA and the FIFA Connect team presented the digital platform to a range of selected Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) Spanish-speaking Member Association (MA) representatives who will be using the new system to register their football stakeholders in the future.

The Football Association of Cuba (AFC)’s general secretary Jesus Pereira and his counterpart at the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), Walter Feldmann, signed a collaboration agreement to promote the technical development of Cuban football from youth to elite level. The agreement was signed in the presence of Jair Bertoni, FIFA’s Director of Member Associations, Americas, and members of FIFA regional offices in Panama and Asuncion. The partnership will also promote training for referees on the island. The project, which aims to support technical development from grassroots level, began last Monday with a course for Cuban youth team coaches.

A new futsal arena was recently inaugurated by the Costa Rican FA (FEDEFUTBOL), with the facility set to help the development of the men's and women's national futsal teams. Representatives from FIFA and CONCACAF were among the attendees for the opening of the premises, which will allow the country's national futsal teams to prepare for international tournaments in excellent conditions with futsal competitions also set to kick off soon in the facilities.

As commonplace as that phrase may be by now, there is a lot of truth in it as the foundations for a successful career are often laid at an early age. To that end, the Football Federation of North Macedonia (FFM) is now able to offer its young players new opportunities and is eager to make the most of the momentum gained by recent positive developments.

When Target Field received its LEED Silver New Construction (NC) certification shortly after opening in 2010—at the time, it was only the second ballpark in the U.S. to receive LEED certification—the U.S. Green Building Council called it the “Greenest Ballpark in America.” But the Twins didn’t stop there: The stadium went on to earn LEED Silver for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (EBOM) the following year.

In October 2010, the Amway Center became the first LEED Gold–certified designed and constructed professional basketball arena in North America. Today it remains the only NBA arena to be awarded LEED Gold certification within the New Construction standard. The arena uses approximately 25 percent less energy and 40 percent less water than arenas of similar size and type, saving the team hundreds of thousands of dollars each year—including close to $700,000 annually in energy costs alone. As a sports industry leader in advanced green building approaches for venue construction, the Amway Center is a local and national role model for efficiency and environmental stewardship. The Magic have worked hard to spread the green message embodied in their arena to fans nationwide, including through their role as hosts of the 2012 NBA All-Star Game.

The Toyota Center and Houston Rockets had environmental responsibility on their radar even before the arena opened in 2003. “We started before we got into the building. We have always been very environmentally conscious at the Toyota Center—it’s always been a part of how we operate,” says Sarah Joseph, director of community relations at the Rockets. The push towards operational efficiency and eventually pursuing LEED certification stems from their green-minded owner, Leslie Alexander. “Environmental responsibility is extremely important to Mr. Alexander,” says Scott Manley, director of event operations at Toyota Center. The Toyota Center was the fourth NBA arena to receive LEED certification, earning LEED Silver for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance in 2010. “Applying for LEED was done on a voluntary basis, so we looked at that as an opportunity to take a leadership role,” says Manley.

The Atlanta Hawks have a competitive green streak that came out when they vied with the Miami HEAT to become the first NBA team with a LEED-certified home arena. For eight months, the Hawks worked hard to achieve LEED Certification for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance (EBOM), and the team was awarded the LEED certification on April 7, 2009, becoming the first NBA arena in the world to achieve this certification for an existing facility. Today, many NBA arenas have achieved LEED certification including the Miami HEAT, the Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets, and Portland Trail Blazers. To earn certification the arena invested in a variety of green improvements almost a decade after the building first opened. These upgrades included: HVAC, chiller, and lighting retrofits; reflective roof materials that reduce cooling needs; and water conservation measures such as low-flow bathroom fixtures that have cut water usage by 2 million gallons.

The Venezuela Football Federation (FVF) with the support of the FIFA Forward development programme, in line with the MA long-term strategy, decided to focus on the development of women’s football to increase the tremendous potential it can bring in Latin America. Through the Yara Women’s Technical Centre project, the objective is to improve all available infrastructure in a sustainable way and to provide the facilities with the latest and most innovative technologies.

Considered as the most popular sport in Poland, football is more than a passion in the Eastern European country. It brings fans together and helps to reduce social isolation, especially in the most remote areas. The development of football infrastructure and the constant increase in numbers of the coaches in recent years, combined with the increased interest in football among young people, created the foundation upon which the Polish Football Federation (PZPN) was called to build its future strategy.

The eighth meeting of the FIFA Council was held today in Kigali, Rwanda, where the members of FIFA’s strategic and decision-making body discussed a number of pivotal aspects regarding the future of FIFA competitions.

The horizon looks bright for the future of football in Tegucigalpa, the mountainous Honduran capital of 1.2 million inhabitants, where players are now able to enjoy training at a brand new youth football stadium, financed by the FIFA Forward Development Programme. The new facility will allow them to enjoy football in the best conditions, bringing more quality of play in a country where football is more than just a game.

With a population of more than 52.2 million people, Kenyans are known to be extremely passionate about football and the potential for women’s football to develop in such an extended African territory is tremendous. As a result, women’s football development has become one of the top priorities of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF). The Kenyan Women's Premier League is the top tier women's football league in the Kenyan football league pyramid.

Participation in competitive matches is a key element in developing national teams. With FIFA Forward's investment of USD 588,197, New Zealand’s women’s team, nicknamed the Football Ferns, and All Whites youth teams have been able to complete a very intensive programme, involving an extensive travel schedule, and are on the right track, having achieved some significant results. Under the constant supervision of the New Zealand Football member association, this project allows the teams to move forward and provides them with the necessary means to achieve substantial and sustainable progress.

We take a look at the cycling friendly city of Innsbruck in the Tirol region of Austria where the 2018 Union Cycliste Internationale's (UCI) Road World Championships took place.

The World Minigolf Federation (WMF) organized on October 22, 2019, in cooperation with United Through Sports and the main sponsor of the World Championships 2019 Invengo Group Company Limited an UTS conference in Zhouzhuang, China. Julia Govinden, CEO of United Through Sports made now a clip out of the video material which was provided by WMF and Invengo. The title of the conference was "United Through Minigolf - Building Bridges".

The 2008 MLB All-Star Game Red Carpet Show featured the longest and greenest red carpet in history, winding up NYC’s Sixth Avenue, made from 100 percent recycled fiber content and manufactured using 100 percent renewable energy from solar and wind sources. The 95,000 square foot carpet was produced at Bentley Prince Street’s California manufacturing facility, which was the first in the country to receive a silver rating from the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB). The carpet was also certified as an environmentally preferable product by Scientific Certification Systems (SCS). Through Bentley Prince Street’s manufacturing processes, MLB avoided the use of 6,300 pounds of fossil-fuel-derived fiber and 162,000 gallons of water during the carpet’s production. In addition, Bentley Prince Street also offset the carbon impact of the carpet by purchasing 480,000 pounds of Green-e certified emissions reduction credits. After the parade, Bentley Prince Street collected the carpet for recycling through its ReEntry 2.0 carpet reclamation program, avoiding landfill disposal for 45,000 pounds of carpet.

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) partnered with NRDC to launch its official greening effort at the 2008 US Open, including the tournament’s first water bottle and aluminum can recycling program, and the greening program has continued to make strong improvements at every Open since. “The commitment and expansion of the US Open Green Initiatives will ensure that the world’s highest annually- attended event is the most environmentally conscious,” said Jon Vegosen, chairman of the board and president, USTA, and chairman of the US Open. “These environmental endeavors have kept the USTA, the US Open and tennis fans in the forefront of the global effort to preserve the environment.”

For the first time in the history of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) final four, a sustainability committee was formed in 2011 to integrate ecologically intelligent practices into the event’s planning and production. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) was asked to join as a founding member of the NCAA final four Sustainability Committee, teaming up with LG Electronics, Waste Management, reliant park, the City of Houston and the George r. Brown Convention Center.

The Miami HEAT have been sports industry leaders in green building initiatives and comprehensive tracking of facility-wide resource use since AmericanAirlines Arena became LEED-certified for existing buildings: operations and maintenance (EBOM) in the spring of 2009. For the better part of a year the HEAT worked on enhancing their operations in a race against the Atlanta Hawks to win the first LEED Certification for an arena in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The showdown culminated in a dead heat when the Green Building Certification Institute, a subset of the U.S. Green Building Council, awarded AmericanAirlines Arena and Philips Arena, the home of the Hawks, LEED certification on the same day, April 7, 2009. With a LEED certification under their belt, and many cost benefits and positive press mentions to boot, the HEAT are now working toward LEED recertification in 2014, which requires improving on all of their 2009 efficiency achievements.

The Seattle Mariners have been leading the environmental charge in stadium operations ever since Scott Jenkins, vice president of ballpark operations, joined the team midseason in 2006 and immediately set out to make the stadium’s operations more efficient. Since then, the Mariners have saved nearly $1.5 million in energy costs, and Safeco Field boasts the lowest energy intensity of all the Major League Baseball stadiums that participate in EPA’s EnergyStar program. Jenkins and the Mariners are founding members of the Green Sports Alliance and have received numerous awards for Safeco Field’s environmental initiatives, including the Washington Green 50 Special Leadership Award given by Seattle Business magazine in 2011.

STAPLES Center in downtown Los Angeles is undoubtedly one of the busiest arenas in the world, hosting more than 250 events and nearly 4 million guests each year. The arena is home to four professional sports franchises—the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, the NHL’s 2012 Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings and the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks—and also hosts many high-profile events, including the annual X Games and Grammy Awards. Other notable events include the 2004 and 2011 NBA All-Star Weekends, the 2002 NHL All-Star Game, the 2000 Democratic National Convention, and the 2011 World Figure Skating Championships. Since the arena opened in 1999, STAPLES Center’s operations team has aimed to run it as efficiently as possible. With the help of AEG, STAPLES Center has become a leader in environmentally better practices, boasting a 1,727-panel solar array atop its roof; high-efficiency lighting, equipment, and energy management systems; and waterless urinals, among other initiatives. AEG and STAPLES Center developed an environmental management system (EMS) to guide employees in reducing the environmental impact of STAPLES Center’s daily operations. As a result, the STAPLES Center became the first U.S. arena to receive an ISO 14001 certification in 2010.

In the sports greening space, the Trail Blazers are true to their name as industry leaders in green building and making a business case for environmentally intelligent operations. In January 2010 the Rose Garden Arena became the first professional sports arena in the United States (and in the world) to achieve LEED Gold certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Existing Buildings standard. Three years later, the Blazers are still achieving incremental resource savings in energy, water and waste each year that continue to greatly benefit the team’s bottom line. To date the Blazers have saved close to $500,000 in pure profit after recovering their up-front green investments in full.

The Cleveland Indians are among the sports industry vanguard in the installation of onsite renewable energy, among many other greening accomplishments. Their stadium, Progressive Field, was among the first major sports venues in North America to install onsite solar, during the summer of 2007, and the Indians were the first American League baseball team to do so. In 2012 Progressive Field also became the first Major League Baseball stadium to install a wind turbine. While the Indians’ greening work was kick-started by impressive cost savings from their expanded recycling program, it quickly spread to onsite renewables and environmentally preferable purchasing. The Indians also have several green projects on the horizon, with plans in the works for a 4,000-square-foot green roof and solar thermal technology.

Principality Stadium in Cardiff started its sustainability journey in 2010, and has only progressed since then. Principality stadium has been improving its sustainability outcomes for almost a decade.

Joanna Leigh, BASIS Steering Committee member, wanted put sustainability on the radar for Women's Hockey. Joanna worked to create and implement an environmental policy, and engaged in conversations with a number of stakeholders including sponsors and volunteers

Ahead of International Women’s Day, World Rugby has announced an extension of its Women’s Executive Leadership Scholarship programme, following game-changing outcomes in its first two years. An additional 12 new scholarships will be awarded in 2020 with 12 recipients coming from across the globe in Africa, Asia, Oceania, South America, Europe and North America. Originally launched in 2018 as a two-year strategy to accelerate the normalisation of women in key leadership roles on and off the field, the game-changing scholarship programme aligns with World Rugby’s transformational governance reform, which has resulted in women comprising more than a third of the international federation’s 50-strong Council.

The auditing experiences of other sectors within the sporting goods industry have shown that a shared approach is the most effective way forward, minimizing confusion, audit duplication and audit fatigue for suppliers supporting multiple brands.

The mandate of the RSI for Bicycle group is to create a single, shared approach for social and environmental issues across the supply chain through a commonly held code of conduct, evaluation protocol and execution of supply chain audits to cultivate a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.

FEI Helsinki has the ambitious goal, to be the most sustainable equestrian event worldwide. Find out what has been done so far on-site, to achieve this goal.

Members of the International Fencing Federation (FIE) Athletes commission are actively engaged in the promotion of the new programme Donate Your Fencing Gear launched in Verona in 2018.

The 2019 Union Cycliste Internationale's (UCI) Mobility & Bike City Forum took place in Paris. International experts from the cycling and mobility community were invited to discuss a wide range of topics, from everyday cycling promotion to the future of active and sustainable travel. Many representatives from UCI Bike Cities & Regions were also present, who shared their thoughts and examples on the current and future state of active mobility!

In 2013, the International Canoe Federation (ICF) was approached by Paddle for the Planet (P4P), a registered NGO that unites paddlers and watermen for conservation, about the possibility of forming a partnership. P4P’s signature event is the annual Global Paddling Relay: simultaneous paddling events that start sequentially, on the same day and at the same time, in different time zones all over the world, thereby creating a global relay. Paddlers of any type of paddling craft (rowing boats, dragon boats, canoes, kayaks and others) are united through the event.

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) began its banner repurposing project after the annual General Congress in 2012. Members agreed that the roll-ups created for the event carried a significant cost and should be reused in a creative way rather than simply being disposed of. The idea of reusing materials had previously been raised during meetings of the IIHF Social & Environment Committee, and members considered Congress to be the perfect opportunity to kick-start the repurposing programme.

In 2013, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Social & Environment Committee launched its first water savers distribution project. The programme consisted of issuing small packages containing three simple devices that are attached to faucets in order to significantly reduce water consumption. The project formed part of an overall effort by the committee to respond to the desire of its members to take a more sustainable approach in daily activities. The IIHF commissioned Adcom, a Swiss marketing company, to create customised water savers.

The International Judo Federation (IJF) purchases tatami and judogi when hosting major events. The tatami and judogi are sourced only from manufacturers who have met IJF regulations with regard to such matters as safety, production standards, fire resistance, homogeneity and stiffness. Since 2007, the IJF has institutionalised a redistribution programme of used tatami and judogis, which are allocated based on requests made by member federations.

The Eissportzentrum Oberstdorf is the national training centre for figure skating in Germany, supported financially by the German and Bavarian state governments and owned by the community of Oberstdorf. The community and the government sought to implement two new systems to reduce energy costs and conserve water.

In 2015, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) decided to relaunch the UCI Bike City label, which had been designed to reward bike-friendly cities. The programme, which started ten years ago, was revamped with new criteria to appeal to a wider number of cities. The first new UCI Bike City labels were awarded in October 2016 to Bergen (Norway), Drenthe (the Netherlands) and Limburg-Valkenburg (the Netherlands), and will be valid for four years.

Following the success of the World Curling Federation's (WCF) New Facility Loan programme, which allows member associations (National Federations; NFs) to apply for loans to build new curling rinks, the WCF decided to create a Green Facility Loan initiative. Designed in a similar manner to the New Facility Loans, Green Facility Loans provide an opportunity for members and clubs within NFs to access funding in order to improve existing facilities with new technologies and equipment that is more sustainable and may help to reduce energy costs.

More than 15 years ago, World Rugby (formerly the International Rugby Board) partnered with SOS Kit Aid, a developing rugby-oriented charity that had been founded by former rugby player John Broadfoot following a visit to Romania in 2000. SOS Kit Aid mission is to recycle rugby kit for the benefit of young people around the world. The organisation seeks to make a positive impact on children’s lives by giving them the chance to participate in sporting activities, while also promoting social inclusion and protecting the environment. Since its first delivery of rugby kits in 2001, SOS Kit Aid has made approximately 500 donations to more than 35 countries, including Moldova, Georgia, Kenya, Swaziland, Ecuador and Fiji.

As a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), World Sailing was granted consultative status within the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 1999, when the IF was known as the International Sailing Federation (ISAF). Through having this status, World Sailing has been able to discuss relevant issues and provide advice during meetings. However, consultative status does not confer voting rights. World Sailing has been represented at IMO meetings by members of the IF’s International Regulations Commission. World Sailing’s position at IMO was particularly felt during the period when the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Bulk Liquids & Gases (BLG) started to develop “Guidelines for the control and management of ship’s biofouling to minimise the transfer of invasive aquatic species”. The guidelines covered all ships within its scope, including small boats.

The All England Lawn Tennis Club set out to inspire and engage visitors on the subject of the environment.

The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) established a sustainability programme in 2013, born from its desire to make a serious contribution towards conserving the sound environment necessary for the practice and continuity of equestrian sport. The sustainability programme encompassed various initiatives to support event organisers reduce negative environmental impacts and create a positive legacy. As part of the process, the FEI commissioned a survey to further understand the status of environmental sustainability and ascertain future needs among event organisers.

Pioneering audio-descriptive commentary was offered in Portuguese at 26 of the 64 matches during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, describing the atmosphere in the stadium and the action on the pitch. FIFA appointed the Centre for Access to Football in Europe (CAFE) as consultants to deliver and manage the commentary at the four host stadiums in Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

Social responsibility is a key issue for FIFA, which believes that football can bring about positive social change. As part of this responsibility, FIFA has implemented the FIFA Quality Programme to protect the interests of its stakeholders and to ensure that correct measures were being taken in the production of football equipment, surfaces, technology and services used for the sport. The FIFA Quality Programme has been built on in depth studies, surveys and analyses of players’ needs, and also encompasses aspects of safety, performance, durability, quality assurance and playing comfort.

Despite increasing environmental awareness among citizens, no fully-fledged system of separate waste collection currently exists in Russia. It is said that waste disposal sites in Russia currently occupy around 30,000 square miles, and waste processing facilities in Moscow are close to full capacity. It has become increasingly important for Russia to take action in addressing and solving its waste management problem. As part of FIFA’s sustainability initiatives for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, approximately 20 percent of all waste collected during the hosting of the Preliminary Draw in Saint Petersburg was recycled through a system put in place by the LOC. The project was part of the Sustainability Strategy developed by FIFA and the LOC.

Highlighting its commitment to sustainability, FIFA made the decision in 2009 to include it in its future bidding agreements, starting with the 2018 FWC bidding process. This required each bidding country to provide comprehensive information on activities aimed at social development, economic sustainability and environmental protection as part of the staging of the FWC. In December 2010, the Russian Federation was selected to host the 2018 FWC. Then, in late 2013, FIFA began working with the LOC to create a sustainability strategy for the event. The 2018 FWC in Russia was planned in close connection with long-term national development strategies and programmes, with the ultimate goals of creating social, environmental and economic benefits for host cities and regions and creating a new standard for large events within the country.

New hockey fields are major investments, and it is important they meet the expectations of players, clubs and associations. To help ensure excellent fields for all levels of play, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) launched its Quality Programme for Hockey Turf in October 2015 as part of Hockey Revolution, its ten-year strategic vision for the sport. The programme certifies suppliers, manufacturers, field builders and hockey turfs based on their compliance with a set of criteria, which include the use of sustainable best practices, staff experience, weather resistance and raw materials. The programme also offers certification for hockey fields through FIH Accredited Test Institutes, which meet the FIH’s international standards and are evaluated regularly.

As part of FIS Green, the FIS’s comprehensive new sustainability strategy due to be launched in early 2017, the FIS decided to create a database of sustainability initiatives implemented by ski resorts across the globe. The database features projects conducted by more than 700 ski resorts, which were selected from the existing database of resort information available to the FIS. A total budget of 5,000 CHF was allocated to the project. The information was compiled through online desk research from the websites of the ski resorts. This method was specifically chosen as the FIS preferred to focus on information that was already publicly available, which confirmed that the ski resorts had sought to communicate their initiatives. The collected information has been divided into four focus areas: alternative methods of energy; recycling practices; alternative methods of transport in the resort; and existing partnerships with public transportation.

The International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF) believes that an energised and motivated staff will result in productive and efficient ways of working. The goals of this “Family Comes First” approach have been to increase the morale of IBSF staff members, to keep them motivated about their jobs, and to create a positive work environment. For example: Short, informal meetings with all employees are held for 10-15 minutes each day, allowing members of staff to chat about non-work-related topics.

The International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF) regularised a number of new policies relating to travel and transportation within the federation. The policies were created as a strategic response to the high travel costs that had been observed in the 2010 annual financial report. Previously, the more than 90 jury staff assigned to competitions, the IBSF Executive Board and the IBSF staff members could organise their own travel to competitions and other events, and then be reimbursed by the IBSF. The new approach centralises all travel arrangements, with a specific employee dedicating part of her time to arranging transportation in the most efficient and sustainable way possible.

Since 2008, the International Biathlon Union (IBU) has received approximately 100 competition packages every two years for its international referees and technical delegates through its partnerships with suppliers. The uniform packages include boots, winter jackets, tops, trousers and raincoats, ensuring officials are correctly clothed for the winter weather conditions during competition and are easily recognisable as IBU officials. When new sets of uniforms are dispatched, the IBU asks officials to return their previous sets. This request is designed to ensure that there is no confusion regarding which set is currently valid for use. Approximately 80 of these used uniforms are then sent to a local partner company for repairs and to remove the IBU officials logo, at a total cost every two years of approximately €12,000.

In May 2017, five International Federations (IFs) and the IOC created a working group to tackle the ongoing issue of pollution in natural water bodies, in an effort to increase the safety of athletes and promote legacy projects in host cities for water sports, recreation and the environment.

The International Fistball Association (IFA) and the World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) aim to place sustainable development at the core of their organisations to create positive economic, social and environmental impacts through their operations and events. The limited resources of both International Federations (IFs) encouraged them to collaborate, sharing information and resources on different topics including sustainability. As a result, they have been able to provide a higher level of support to their National Federations (NFs) and Local Organising Committees (LOCs).

When planning its new World Archery Excellence Centre in Lausanne, Switzerland, World Archery resolved to create a building that was sustainable and had positive impacts on both the sport of archery and the local community. Through an agreement with the city of Lausanne, World Archery received the land in exchange for providing electricity to the city through its solar panels

World Archery has cut back on the use of plastic bottles at competitions, reducing waste and saving money. One million plastic bottles are bought around the world every minute – and this number is forecast to jump another 20 per cent by 2021, according to the Guardian/ Euromonitor. This volume of plastic is contributing to an environmental crisis some campaigners predict will be as serious as climate change, posing significant threats to our health, our oceans and our wildlife

Fresh water accounts for less than one per cent of the world’s water bodies, and one billion people currently have no access to safe drinking water. Recognising the vital global importance of clean fresh water, the World Rowing Federation (FISA) and WWF joined forces in 2011 to address this key issue in sustainable development, a crucial element for the sport of rowing and the well-being of its athletes. World Rowing believes it has a responsibility to not only apply environmentally sustainable practices, but also to take a lead in this global issue. Through the partnership, World Rowing has been able to educate rowing communities and the public about the value of clean water.

World Rugby recognises the power of sport as a catalyst for social development and a tool to improve people’s lives. To harness this spirit and engage with the wider rugby family, World Rugby developed “Spirit of Rugby” in 2016. As part of this programme, World Rugby invited organisations to submit proposals for joint sustainability-related projects, providing them with an opportunity to partner with the International Federation (IF) and leverage the “Spirit of Rugby” initiative’s visibility and energy.

World Sailing has placed sustainability at the heart of the organisation. Following the publication in November 2016 of the first World Sailing Sustainability Strategy (2017-2030), which evolved through internal research and a stakeholder consultation process, World Sailing hired a dedicated sustainability expert in June 2017.

In the words of the United Nations: “While the world has achieved progress towards gender equality and women’s empowerment, women and girls continue to suffer discrimination in every part of the world. ”Building on its ongoing efforts to promote and respect gender equality, World Taekwondo (WT) has developed and implemented a strategy designed to guarantee that half of all referees officiating at WT-sanctioned events are women – representing a substantial step towards gender equality.

More than ten years ago, the International Boxing Federation (AIBA) established a redistribution policy for the sport equipment it acquires for its annual major events. For each event, AIBA secures sponsorship partners that provide the necessary equipment, such as boxing rings, boxing gloves, head guards, pads and punching bags. Within the framework of the sponsor agreement is the understanding that all equipment used for the event will be donated to the host National Federation (NF). The NF then has the responsibility of redistributing the equipment to local clubs and development centres in order to help athletes who require proper equipment for training and competition.

To prepare for council meetings (on average, three per year) and the eight standing committee meetings attached to each one, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) staff had to compile folders containing a large volume of information for each council member. The 26 council members and four BWF staff members who attended council meetings each received a folder containing approximately 500 sheets of paper, which equates to approximately 15,000 sheets of paper for each week of meetings. It took BWF staff almost two full days to prepare the folders, which then had to be shipped to the meeting location – often a costly process. The folders were heavy and caused security concerns, as members were not always able to dispose of them appropriately They also created unnecessary waste: some folders had to be shredded because members did not want to take them home

In March 2017, the International Fencing Federation (FIE) launched “Donate Your Fencing Gear”, a new long-term initiative encouraging fencers to donate their fencing equipment to fencers that may not have access to such materials. Following tests at the Junior & Cadet World Fencing Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, in April 2017, the scheme was fully implemented at the World Fencing Championships in Leipzig, Germany, in July.

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is touching the lives of millions of people all over the world. Through football competitions and its operations FIFA also generates jobs and interacts with a wide range of organisations. With this global reach and impact comes a heightened responsibility to preserve the inherent dignity and equal rights of each individual affected by FIFA’s activities. FIFA therefore considers respecting human rights both a social responsibility and moral obligation

Climate change, natural resource scarcity and other sustainability concerns are threats to winter sports such as skiing. This is why the International Ski Federation (FIS) collaborated with the Lahti 2017 Nordic World Ski Championships Local Organising Committee (LOC) to make sustainability a cornerstone of the event. The slogan “Not for 10 days but for the next 100 years” accompanied all the LOC activities, raising awareness around the importance of making sustainability integral to championships. FIS guidelines require the National Federation, the host city and the LOC to respect the environment and promote its protection. With the aim of providing a sustainability blueprint for future FIS events, the Lahti LOC collaborated with organisations such as the Sitra Innovation Fund, which provided sustainability awareness workshops for partners and sponsors; EcoCompass, which helped deliver environmental certification; Stora Enso, a renewable materials provider; and Globe Hope, an eco-friendly design company

As detailed in its Sustainability Statement, endorsed in 2012 by over 150 golf associations around the world, the International Golf Federation (IGF) regards safeguarding the environment as a top priority. Golf courses are often located in ecologically rich landscapes, and their construction is increasingly under pressure from land and water scarcity and environmental regulations. For this reason, the IGF and many of its members and partners have been working with the sustainability solutions of GEO Foundation and the United States Golf Association (USGA) “Green Section” to integrate sustainability into new golf facilities and major championships.

At the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship (WM) in Germany, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), the Local Organising Committee (LOC), the city of Cologne and its public transport network, KVB, and local bike rental company Nextbike, teamed up to provide sustainable transport to all accredited participants and spectators. Participants could use WM-branded bicycles free of charge for the duration of the Championship. The benefits of cycling are well known. According to the UCI’s Cycling for All Manifesto: “Cycling can help tackle some of the pressing challenges facing humanity. Reduced air pollution, lowered traffic congestion, and improved public health are among the many benefits that greater everyday cycling around the world offers, accessible to all, rich or poor.”

In 2016, Drenthe in the Netherlands became one of the three first cities and regions to be awarded the “Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Bike City/Region” label. Awarded for a four-year period, the label recognises cities and/or regions that both host UCI cycling events and demonstrate an outstanding commitment to cycling for all. Covering 2,500km2 and with a population of around 500,000, Drenthe promotes cycling as a way for its residents to achieve better health and well-being. Currently, 29 per cent of all trips are made by bicycle, though the region hopes to raise bike use by a further 20 per cent by 2020

The rich yet fragile nature of the mountain ecosystem means it is imperative that we manage human induced impacts, to ensure both the sustainability of these regions and the future of International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) sports such as mountaineering, ice climbing and rock climbing.

Over recent decades, mountain regions have seen a substantial increase in tourism and sports activities, which has resulted in the over-exploitation of natural resources, increases in pollution and waste, changes in land use and disturbances to flora and fauna.

The UIAA’s Mountain Protection Award (MPA) has been designed to promote responsible mountain tourism practices and reward outstanding initiatives from mountain stakeholders.

Click here to watch the promotional clip: https://youtu.be/4wVbM0yfnNo

Mountains offer a place for everyone to be inspired, play and find adventure. They provide essential fresh water to billions of people worldwide and are home to a rich array of wildlife and unique plants. One hundred million tourists visit the European Alps alone each year – and every tourist leaves a footprint, often in the form of waste. Action is required to remove this waste and educate mountaineers about respecting the environment.

Environmental pollution by lead is a global issue. No known level of lead exposure is considered safe, and the toxin is one of the most deadly on the planet. Its common use has resulted in extensive environmental contamination and widespread public health problems, harming young children in particular. Before 2011, Modern Pentathlon athletes used approximately 25 tonnes of lead pellets per year globally, some of which inevitably ended up in the environment. The International Union of Modern Pentathlon (UIPM) took this into consideration and, wanting also to improve safety and inclusivity for its athletes, changed from lead to laser pistols in 2011. Laser equipment is safer to use, has minimal security restrictions and is available to children, allowing UIPM events to target new audiences and be conducted in different locations, such as city centres, public parks, clubs and schools. Many countries have restrictions for minors when it comes to shooting and possession of sport pistols, but this is not the case for laser equipment. Since the introduction of laser pistols, the number of athletes has doubled and the UIPM has introduced new disciplines, enabling the engagement of youth, and inspiring future athletes. A new event, Laser-Run City Tour, reached almost 60 cities and 15,000 participants of all ages in 2017.

The activities and interactions between the Swiss Olympic Association (Swiss Olympic) and its stakeholders are guided by the Olympic values and its Code of Ethics, which states that “mutual relationships between people and the attitude towards nature shall be ‘respectful’.” Swiss Olympic encourages this behaviour in sport and integrates it into its procurement activities according to the following principles: product-specific requirements with regard to social and ecological standards; stakeholder consultation; transparency; and transition time for long-standing partnerships.

Supported by the International Powerboating Union (UIM), the fifth edition of the Monaco Solar & Energy Boat Challenge unveiled some of the latest clean-energy innovations as applied to powerboating in 2018. These innovations encourage the development of renewable energies as a replacement for fossil fuels, one of the biggest drivers of global warming, and show how both powerboating and motorsports could evolve in the future

The Clean Seas campaign was launched in February 2017 to increase global awareness of the marine litter issue, and to implement measures that address gaps in waste management. Oceans are one of Earth’s most precious natural resources, covering over 70 per cent of our planet’s surface. They are responsible for producing oxygen, cleaning the air and regulating the weather. Around 80 per cent of litter originates from land-based activities and ends up in our oceans. Littering causes pollution and alters the properties of the water, harming marine wildlife, depleting fish stocks, and impacting global economies.

The Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC)’s Sport and Environment Commission has produced a toolkit for national stakeholders and National Federations (NFs) that explains the environmental issues connected to sport, and how to implement appropriate measures. The toolkit is a response to the UOC’s concerns about the negative impact that sport can have on the environment, as well as the impact of a degraded environment on athletes. The toolkit was launched in 2015 and guides the Ugandan sports community – in particular the 23 NFs – to integrate environmental sustainability into sport.

On the understanding that tourism should be consistent with the tenets of sustainable development and that sport has the potential to advocate for it, the Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) brought together sports, governmental, non-governmental, cultural and private stakeholders to propose measures that could attract sustainable tourism through sport.
Tourism can only be sustainable if the natural assets on which it is based are protected from degradation.
A well managed tourism sector can become a tool for environmental protection, preventing irreversible impacts such as disruption of wildlife, alteration of landscapes and deforestation.
Sustainable tourism is about minimising negative environmental impacts and maximising socio-economic benefits at tourist destinations

The World Heritage sites (WHS) are designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for their “outstanding universal value”. They represent unique natural and cultural sources of life, and play a vital role for current and future generations. WHS are grouped into three categories: cultural sites, natural sites, and mixed sites that combine cultural and natural value. A total of 229 natural and mixed WHS cover around 2.79 million km2 and provide both freshwater and jobs to 11 million people. They also store 10.5 billion tonnes of carbon, thus adding to the regulation of our climate both locally and globally. Around 50 per cent of all natural WHS are threatened by human activities – including the organisation of sporting events. By acknowledging the negative impact that such events can have on certain sites, the World Rowing Federation (FISA) has implemented a policy to protect natural and mixed WHS with the support of the WWF. World Rowing now assesses any potential impact on the sites of World Rowing- sanctioned events in advance. As part of the bidding process for a World Rowing event, World Rowing and its stakeholders

World Rugby has a responsibility to both regulate and inspire and in 2018 published at www.world. rugby/sustainability a framework to guide sustainable actions across rugby in a holistic way. Through collaboration with various rugby and non-rugby stakeholders, the team nature of the sport is reflected in the framework, which demonstrates a role for all including National Federations (NFs), continental associations, players, fans, officials, partners and suppliers. This approach reinforces the importance of a team effort and helps to identify and understand impacts to better manage available and potential resources in a sustainable way.

Having successfully launched a sustainability strategy in 2016, World Sailing has since taken further steps towards embracing sustainability at the core of the organisation and the sport. These steps provided a set of objectives and target actions that formalised the intentions of World Sailing to drive sustainability and open up further opportunities. One of the first steps was to set up an independent Sustainability Commission, comprised of eight experts from five countries. Together with relevant staff, they developed a long-term sustainability vision (Sustainability Agenda 2030) and proposed a set of 59 ambitious but achievable sustainability targets

In line with its efforts to respect the environment, the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) decided to renovate its headquarters in accordance with the Swiss Minergie construction standard for energy efficiency. On average, Minergie-compliant buildings consume 25 per cent less energy than conventional buildings. After moving into its headquarters, the FEI chose to go further by aligning its office operations with the sustainable character of its building. In 2017, the FEI started working with recycling specialist Interseroh to receive its Green Office certification, which recognises sustainable office practice in four areas: 1. Ensuring training for and commitment from employees. 2. Executing an optimised bin concept with visual enhancements. 3. Controlling waste processes, and defining responsibilities for bin clearance. 4. Communicating major alterations to the organisation’s waste disposal partner or internal contact. According to Interseroh, 80 percent of typical office waste is disposed of incorrectly and ends up in landfill even though many items could be recycled. Separating recyclable materials such as paper, PET, glass, aluminium, organic waste and coffee capsules optimises their use and also helps lower office costs

The number of people living in urban areas around the world is expected to grow by around 2.5 billion by 2050. With transport and mobility being two core elements of a liveable city environment, the world urgently needs plans and policies that tackle pollution, congestion and road safety hazards. Supporting the United Nations’ New Urban Agenda, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has taken a proactive role in shaping the future of our cities by creating the “FIA Smart Cities” initiative.

Originally drafted in 1997 and revised in 2008, the National Olympic Committee and Sports Confederation of Denmark (DIF)’s Environmental Code of Conduct contains requirements and recommendations on the subjects of nature, the direct and action-oriented language of the code has been designed to strongly encourage its implementation.

Funded and supported by the German governmental, academic and non-profit sectors, the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) has developed Green Champions 2.0, a bilingual (German and English), step-by-step online sustainability tool for sports event organisers such as National Federations (NFs) and local organising committees (LOCs).

To more firmly anchor biodiversity in sport, raise awareness and establish closer links between sports and nature conservation organisations, the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) launched the Sport Moves – Experience Biodiversity project, supported by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU).

To help motorsport stakeholders (e.g. National Sporting Authorities [ASNs], circuits and teams) measure and improve their environmental performance, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has developed and implemented an Environmental Accreditation Programme. This three-level programme introduces an environmental management framework for motorsport drawn from multiple international standards, such as ISO14001. Providing clear guidelines on the sustainable management of motorsports events, the FIA’s programme has been tailored to enable all stakeholders to apply the right level of environmental assessment according to their activities, needs, and their level of maturity.

The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA)’s annual FIA Smart Cities Award highlights innovative mobility projects implemented by cities that host the rounds of the fully electric ABB FIA Formula E Championship. The award was first given in 2017 and creates a sharing platform for expertise in innovative urban mobility solutions

In 2016, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) joined the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Secretariat’s Climate Neutral Now initiative, pledging to achieve greenhouse gas emission neutrality by the mid-21st century. Climate Neutral Now brings together organisations committed to measuring, reducing and reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions – the leading cause of global warming – and compensating unavoidable emissions with UN Certified Emission Reductions. Joining Climate Neutral Now contributes to the central objective of the Paris Agreement of limiting global temperature rise to less than 2 degrees celsius, and to the mitigation of climate change’s gravest effects.

Marine litter is a global issue that carries multifaceted consequences, with poor waste management being the main reason for litter finding its way to our coasts and oceans. It is imperative to raise global awareness of this problem and take measures to address shortcomings in waste management. The Federated States of Micronesia National Olympic Committee (FSMNOC) implemented the Love Your Coast (LYC) project in December 2017 to address this issue through coastal clean-ups and practical educational training on marine litter and coastal recovery.

Recognising the capacity and responsibility of sport to manage issues relating to environmental sustainability, and following the Olympic Movement’s Agenda 21 recommendations, the International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF) issued a mandatory sustainability handbook for its Local Organising Committees (LOCs), which between them organise six World Cups and one World/Continental Championship every year. Presented to all LOCs in 2017 and tested and successfully implemented by the Andorran National Federation at the Font Blanca Andorra World Cup event in 2018, the objective of the handbook is to protect the natural environment where ski mountaineering (skimo) competitions are held and to establish a clear and systematic framework that ensures sustainability around three key areas: Leave no trace; Reduce global impacts; and Be the change.

One of the core strategic goals of the National Olympic Committee of Lithuania (LTOK) is to disseminate Olympic values and achieve social development through sport. In order to do this, it implements Olympic Education Programmes (OEPs) throughout the national education system that follow a logic model based on a four-stage framework: needs assessment, design, implementation and evaluation. Across all of the education programmes – from the development of physical activity to Olympic values education – the OEPs share the challenge of measuring their results. Furthermore, securing funding and a continued interest from society and stakeholders depends mainly on the quality of the programme and the capacity to demonstrate effective results.

The Voices of the Athletes (VOA) programme is an initiative co-created by the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) Athletes’ Commission, with the aim of reaching out to athletes to promote and reinforce Olympic values and the spirit of sport. VOA’s core messages are: Be a Leader; Play True; Play Fair; and Go Green.

On 1 May 2018, the Montenegrin National Olympic Committee (MOC) launched its Green Games programme. The programme was implemented for the first time when the country hosted the Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE) from 27 May to 1 June 2019. Green Games was based on four pillars: Environmental standards for sporting events. Sustainability education. Promotion of the Green Games initiative through a communication campaign before and during the GSSE. Concrete sustainability actions to be implemented during the GSSE.

On 29 September 2018, the fourth edition of the Olympic Eco-Fest took place in Chișinău, the capital of Moldova. Welcoming around 5,000 participants, the event took place during the European Week of Sport, which promotes sport and physical activity across Europe.

In December 2018, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) co-launched the new Sports for Climate Action Framework and defined the role of sport in the worldwide fight for climate change. The UN Sports for Climate Action Framework aims to help sports organisations reduce emissions caused by their operations and leverage the worldwide popularity of sport to engage millions of fans in the effort.

The International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA)'s Respect the Mountains (RTM) is an initiative launched in 2015 that encourages UIAA stakeholders to combine a clean-up operation with an education and awareness programme implemented at their events.

In August 2018, the National Olympic Committee of Uganda (UOC) held a national sustainability conference and training workshop on sustainable sport in Kampala, with the help of Olympic Solidarity. Having acknowledged a lack of environmental responsibility within the Ugandan sports community, the UOC wanted to address concerns about the impact that sport can have on the environment, individuals and the public, as well as the impact a degraded environment can have on sport.

United World Wrestling (UWW) understands that engaging youth is fundamental to the long-term sustainability of wrestling development, and the More than Medals programme, launched in 2016, supports this. The programme includes training camps where dedicated educational sessions cover numerous topics including the importance of climate change. The series of camps target young athletes and their coaches/entourages using a holistic approach. Participants practise wrestling while receiving education on climate action with an emphasis on “participation, distinction and diversity”. In 2019, the UWW joined the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Sports for Climate Action Framework alongside the IOC. As part of the activation, the UWW is now developing and implementing an even stronger educational aspect within the More than Medals programme to include UWW members. The aim of the programme is to: Undertake systematic efforts to promote greater environmental responsibility. Reduce overall climate impact. Offer education on climate action. Promote sustainable and responsible consumption. Advocate for climate action through communication.

In 2018, World Sailing teamed up with 11th Hour Racing, an organisation that promotes collaborative and systematic change to benefit the health of the oceans, World Sailing created a sustainability award in order to: Support the implementation of World Sailing’s Sustainability Agenda 2030. Call for innovation across the sailing community to help tackle environmental challenges. Raise awareness about sustainability and inspire the sport community to take similar actions. Give profile and financial support to organisations that are delivering replicable sustainability initiatives Launch a new sustainability award With a sponsor secured for an initial period of three years, the project calls on the sailing community to develop and implement innovative sustainability-oriented projects, and rewards the annual winner with a prize of USD10,000 to help them further develop the initiative.

On 4 July 2019 at the Monaco Solar & Energy Boat Challenge, World Sailing launched its ambitious Challenge 2024 initiative – pushing the boundaries of low-carbon innovation for support boats presence at international events. Challenge 2024 has been partly inspired by World Sailing signing up to United Nations (UN) Climate Change’s Sports for Climate Action framework in December 2018, and is directly aligned with World Sailing’s Sustainability Agenda 2030 targets.

In May 2019, World Taekwondo (WT) launched its first Sustainability Strategy. Containing 17 recommendations designed to ensure WT, its continental unions and member national associations are operating sustainably, the strategy is directly aligned with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Sustainability Strategy It was presented by the WT Sustainability Committee at the World Taekwondo Conference, and was subsequently approved by both the WT Council and General Assembly.

The Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) has developed a Sustainability Strategy that is aligned with the IOC Sustainability Strategy, Olympic Agenda 2020 and the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals. The strategy is designed to be a benchmark for sustainability in Spanish sport and the wider Olympic Movement.

On 5 June 2018, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) joined United Nations Environment Clean Seas initiative (#CleanSeas) to beat plastic waste and called on other organisation and individuals from across the Olympic Movement to come on board. One National Olympic Committee (NOC) and ten International Federations (IFs) have so far joined the initiative, helping to tackle the global issue of marine litter with concrete actions.

In August 2019, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) staged the FEI European Championships (EC) in Rotterdam - and sustainability was a key focus for the organising committee. The FEI EC organising committee engaged early with its stakeholders, including the City of Rotterdam and the main sponsors. The competition was a pilot event for coverage of sustainability initiatives by the FEI, and the FEI’s aim now is to promote such programmes at other FEI championships and events.

The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) through its Environmental Accreditation Programme, the 2019 FIA WRC Rally de Portugal was the most sustainable in the event’s history. Since 2016, the rally has adhered to the FIA Environmental Accreditation Programme, created to help motorsport stakeholders

On 25 June 2019, the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOC SL) launched Give the Reef Another Chance at Polhena Beach in Matara under the auspices of Olympic Solidarity. This threeyear project aims to raise awareness about the importance of coral reef conservation along the Sri Lankan coast and implement actions to help restore the diminishing reef of Polhena

Every year, around 640,000 tons of fishing equipment ends up in the oceans, polluting the seas and trapping whales, dolphins, turtles, fish and other marine animals. According to a 2018 study published by Scientific Reports, these “ghost nets” make up at least 46 per cent of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a collection of marine debris in the North Pacific Ocean that is roughly the size of France. In March 2019, the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) followed the lead of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) by signing up to the Clean Seas initiative. Clean Seas was launched in February 2017 by UN Environment to increase global awareness of marine litter and tackle the problem.

In August 2018, the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Guatemala (COG) implemented a Green Office project to reduce its workplace environmental footprint and day-to-day operating costs. Created in cooperation with the Cleaner Production Centre of Guatemala (CGP+L), the programme focuses on optimising resource usage.

In 2018, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) agreed a partnership with UN Environment to pilot a worldwide air-quality monitoring network that could link 1,000 athletics tracks worldwide According to the World Health Organization, air pollution is responsible for around seven million deaths every year and 91 per cent of the world’s population breathes non-compliant air. Even more alarmingly, 1.8 billion children breathe air so polluted that it puts their health and development in serious jeopardy

In 2018, the International Canoe Federation (ICF) demonstrated its commitment to sustainability by signing up to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the United Nations (UN) Environment’s Clean Seas campaign. Now, the ICF has introduced a sustainability strategy for events to raise environmental awareness, reduce environmental impact, protect the natural environment and demonstrate its commitment to social and economic sustainability

For 15 years, the International Floorball Federation (IFF) has run a sports development programme, shipping 30,000 brand new floorball sticks to countries most in need of sports equipment. In spring 2019, while exploring potential improvements to the programme, the IFF realised that its events led to the disposal of large quantities of sports equipment which could actually be reused or recycled – inspiring the launch of the new Stick with It! initiative.

In May 2019, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) celebrated the first edition of their new annual sustainability award ceremony, which had been launched at the start of the year. Having noticed a significant increase in sustainability initiatives during events among its Member National Associations (MNAs), the IIHF decided to recognise and promote the work of the MNAs through a sustainability award

The World Association of Kickboxing (WAKO) developed a program to sensibilize its community to the importance to consider climate change in the context of their activities.

The Paraguayan Fencing Federation (FPE), one of the 2018-2019 fencing season’s beneficiaries of the FIE’s Donate Your Fencing Gear! program, reported a successful year of fencing training and competition due, in part, to its use of donated equipment. The FIE program is aimed at collecting used but good-quality FIE-approved fencing gear from elite fencers to help disadvantaged fencers or beginners throughout the world, such as in Paraguay.

The fencing federations of American Samoa and Samoa, beneficiaries of the 2018 International Fencing Federation (FIE) Donate Your Fencing Gear! program, have actively been developing fencing in their region. As reported by the federations, using the FIE-donated equipment, they have increased numbers of overall fencers as well as enabled experienced athletes to participate in higher-level competitions. The gear received by the Samoan federations included a variety of donations in multiple sizes, including smaller items (that are harder to come by). This has given the federations the ability to offer fencing to younger children, giving them a head-start in becoming successful athletes. The donated equipment has effectively raised the overall safety standards of fencing gear being used in practice and competition.

The Good Net project is a team effort between FIVB and environmental groups, acting as one to remove Ghost Nets from the ocean and give them new life as volleyball nets.

Focusing on the motto ‘Developing our New Federations’, the first edition of Donate Your Fencing Gear 2018 came to an end in Verona. As for the past editions, the fencers were given the option to choose the program they wanted to support with their donation, which was allocated according to their choice. In six months they will receive the first report about the progress of the project they adopted.

In April 2018, FITEQ signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Peace and Sport, an international, neutral and independent organisation based in Monaco that contributes to peace using the power of sport.

The MoU was signed in Zaatari Refugee Camp in Jordan, where Peace and Sport run the inspiring Live Together programme. Upon the signing of the MoU, both organisations confirmed their intention to join forces to promote teqball as a tool for social development and equality.

Two Teq tables were donated to the citizens of Zaatari Refugee Camp, which is Jordan’s fourth biggest city. Residents there had the opportunity to play on the tables and receive two days of training.

Click here to watch the video of the project

The International Rafting Federation (IRF) delivered the first certified carbon neutral world sports event with their Costa Rica 2011 World Rafting Championships. Following is the success story - a model for future events.

Click here to watch the video describing event's sustainability (In Spanish, with English subtitles)