"Daisies on the Field"

The balance between sports and environmental sustainability

The #PlayGreen Summit on June 13, 2024, was a vibrant convergence of international experts and sports enthusiasts focused on the intersection of sustainability and sports. Sports+Vitality managed to gather the most important stakeholders to inspire them and to facilitate valuable connections throughout Europe. Nobody questioned the importance of the contribution of sports to an environmental sustainable future. However, there’s still important work to do regarding involvement of stakeholders and executing the strategy.

The City of Dordrecht ( Gemeente Dordrecht ) was a perfect host for this Summit as they highlighted their 2040 sustainable ambitions. They received lots of compliments on their strategy and plans. It was the City of Dordrecht summarizing the Summit with the quote: “daisies on the field”. It’s about finding the balance between sports and environmental sustainability.

This balance was also addressed in the contributions from Stad Antwerpen , Budapest City Diplomacy , #Duffel EUROPEAN NETWORK OF OUTDOOR SPORTS , European Commission , Stad Kortrijk , Lichtstad Architecten , Lokale og Anl?gsfonden , Mulier Instituut , Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO) , NL Greenlabel , NOC*NSF , Lokaal bestuur Puurs-Sint-Amands , Maistering B.V. CREPS AUVERGNE-RHONE-ALPES Vallon Pont d’Arc ? Voiron ? Lyon , Waterford City & County Council and FC Weesp

Besides the City of Dordrecht, LALIGA was an important driver to also involve European football and its green initiatives like the European Club Association (ECA) and @weplaygreen . Clubs like ADO Den Haag , Atlético de Madrid , Real Betis Balompié and FC Dordrecht shared their sustainable initiatives.

Supporting this environmental sustainable future are the suppliers who showcased their innovative solutions: 2G Energy AG , Aucxis RFID Solutions , DrainTalent , GeoJunxion BV , Goodless , HallMonitor , RSI SPORTS GROUP , Slinger , StadiumGO , TripService and turfcoach .

In an informal closing all delegates shared their key learnings:

International Knowledge Exchange: Delegates shared valuable insights, reinforcing the importance of global perspectives in addressing local challenges. This summit showed how crossborder knowledge exchange added true value as all delegates gained new insights and made new contacts.

No Size Fits All: Custom solutions are essential, as different regions require tailored approaches to effectively integrate sustainability into sports.

Good Practices: Showcasing exemplary cases provides practical templates for others to emulate and adapt.

Cross-Sectoral Collaboration: Effective sustainability strategies demand cooperation across various sectors, emphasizing the interconnectedness of sports, environment, and society.

Mindset: A shift in thinking is crucial; embracing sustainability starts with cultivating a green mindset among all stakeholders.

Sticking to the Strategy: Consistent and strategic efforts are key to achieving long-term sustainability goals in sports.

Data and User Data: Leveraging data and user insights can drive informed decisions and enhance the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives.

Transformation of Infrastructure: Adapting sports facilities to be more sustainable involves innovative design and practices that support environmental goals.

Sports as a Tool: Sports can be a powerful catalyst for promoting sustainability and educating communities on its importance. As ambassadors raise awareness, good practices in sports may apply in other sectors as well.

Biodiversity: Integrating biodiversity into sports fields and facilities contributes to environmental health and resilience.

Joint Ambition: Collective effort and shared goals across Europe foster an unified approach to sustainable sports practices. Although it’s a long term process, European alignment is essential to meet the standards.

Dare to Ask: Encouraging bold questions and challenging the status quo can lead to groundbreaking solutions and advancements.

The PlayGreen Summit underscored the necessity of a united European ambition, daring to innovate and leveraging sports as a pivotal tool for sustainable development.