Beyond the medals: championing a circular future through sports

Sports events like the Olympic Games not only inspire billions of people, but are also increasingly focusing on sustainability and can become a model for jointly shaping a green future.

For two months it was carried across the country, now it blazes in Paris: the traditional flame that will accompany the Olympic Games in France's capital over the next four weeks. The flame is famously a symbol of peaceful coexistence and international understanding – ideals that will hopefully be promoted by the mega-event on the Seine in our turbulent times. With an expected 15 million guests from all over the world, the prerequisite is certainly in place for people of the most diverse backgrounds to come closer together and for barriers and prejudices between nations to be broken down.

At the same time, such visitor numbers highlight the downside of these major events. For they are always an immense challenge in terms of sustainability. They involve millions of travel movements, gigantic resource consumption, and huge amounts of waste. Whether the European Football Championship a few weeks ago, the recently concluded Tour de France, or the 2024 Olympics in Paris: they all have an impact on the environment, nature, and climate. For example, the last Summer Games in 2020 in Tokyo produced 2.7 million tons of CO2. And at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, 1.6 million tons of the greenhouse gas were emitted just from the construction of seven new stadiums built in the desert sand.

On the other hand, sport is increasingly feeling the effects of climate change. Unreliable snowfall and overly mild temperatures threaten winter activities; heat and capricious weather conditions make life difficult for athletes and spectators in summer.

Trimming Sports for Net Zero

The mission of peace and understanding must therefore be complemented by the dimension of sustainability. And this is fortunately happening more and more. In 2018, the "Sports for Climate Action Framework" was launched under the auspices of the United Nations, with the International Olympic Committee in a leading role and the goal of achieving net-zero emissions in the sports sector by 2040.

Even more encouraging: it's not just announcements. While Tokyo 2020 had already placed an emphasis on sustainability, with podiums made from recycled plastic or medals from electronic waste, Paris aims to overshadow all previous Olympic Games in this regard.

The green catalog of measures is a "faster, higher, further" of a different kind: halving greenhouse gas emissions compared to the Games of the previous decade. Becoming carbon neutral for the first time. Using 100 percent renewable energy. Utilizing 95 percent existing or only temporarily constructed infrastructure. Reducing disposable tableware by 50 percent, doubling the amount of plant-based food – these are just some of the ambitious environmental goals.

Athletes as Sustainability Ambassadors

The concept of the circular economy is thus becoming increasingly anchored in sports as well, which pleases me immensely. For as the key to climate neutrality, resource conservation, and environmental protection, it should become a global guiding principle. And who could be better global ambassadors for this than the gymnasts and swimmers, the runners and ball artists with their millions of fans?

For the concept to work, however, business innovations such as climate-neutral plastics are also needed, for which there is demand throughout sports – from stadiums to equipment to functional clothing. Ultimately, we need all groups to build a circular future. Paris is leading the way with a meticulous master plan. From the city administration to environmental organizations and social associations to suppliers, everyone is contributing.

Events like the Olympics can provide impetus for shaping the future in all directions. For here are united the areas that must be transformed as a matter of priority, such as mobility, construction, and energy. My greatest wish in these days: that the Olympic idea of togetherness and understanding will endure beyond the 2024 summer of sports and become a beacon on the long road to a sustainable tomorrow.