Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Euros & the World Cup: How sport’s biggest events create complex challenges & powerful opportunities for sustainability

With the UEFA Women’s Euro and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham taking place earlier this year, as well as the 2022 World Cup currently underway in Qatar, some of?sport’s biggest events are in the spotlight. Major sport events face complex social and environmental challenges; however, they also offer a powerful platform to accelerate progress towards a sustainable future.

The widespread influence that the sport industry has is particularly amplified in major sport events like the Olympic Games, the UEFA Euros, the World Cup and many others. And while major sporting events present significant sustainability challenges, the powerful opportunity to promote sustainable development offered by these events cannot be understated. The UNFCCC recognised the powerful position in which sport finds itself, establishing the Sports for Climate Action Framework in 2018, of which many major sporting events and associated governing bodies are signatories – and the importance of sustainability in major sporting events has not gone unrecognised.

Sydney’s successful bid to host the 2000 Olympic Games was the first to include references to sustainability, whilst the 2006 World Cup hosted in Germany was the first recognised World Cup to implement a long-term sustainability agenda. Governing bodies like the International Olympic Committee, UEFA and FIFA have identified sustainability as a required element in bids to host major events, further amplifying that sport’s biggest events have the capacity to leave a long-term sustainable legacy across the industry itself, in host locations and in wider society.

Travel and Transport

The transportation sector is amongst the leading causes of global carbon emissions worldwide, with travel and transport presenting one of the most significant sustainability challenges for major sporting events, as fans, athletes and their teams, media personnel and other staff, as well as tonnes of freight travel across the globe. According to a report published by organisers, it is estimated that the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, set to begin later this week, will emit a total of 3.6 million tonnes of carbon (with independent bodies estimating this number to be much higher). This is ?more than 50% increase from the previous 2018 World Cup hosted in Russia. Over half of the total emissions are predicted to be a result of travel producing nearly 1.9 million tonnes of carbon . ?

As is the case with most sources of scope 3 emissions, ensuring more sustainable transport, particularly in relation to fan travel, is logistically challenging and oftentimes beyond the direct control of those organising major sport events. However, organisers can facilitate and encourage sustainable behaviour amongst fans. This ability to influence was recognised in Germany’s successful bid to host the next?UEFA Men’s Euro in 2024, which included a sustainability concept. Amongst the planned measures for more sustainable transport are combi-tickets allowing fans to use public transport for free in host-cities on match days, marked pathways for attendees walking as well as one for those cycling, alternative fuel types for public transportation vehicles and digital car sharing services.

Initiatives for more sustainable travel of athletes and their teams, such as those at the Game Zero match between Chelsea FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC, could perhaps be applied in other major and international sport events. Hosted in September 2021, ahead of COP26, Game Zero was the worlds first carbon neutral major football match. The match featured several sustainable activations, including initiatives focused on reducing travel emissions of both fans and players. Coaches powered by biodiesel reduced player’s carbon emissions by 80% compared to a regular match, which was used as a baseline. Following the match, the company providing transport services to Tottenham Hotspur took inspiration from this and began looking to use more sustainable alternative fuels across their entire fleet, demonstrating how initiatives like those at Game Zero have the potential to influence the wider industry. Leading up to the match, fans were also encouraged to walk, cycle, use public transport or electric vehicles when travelling to the stadium.

Energy Consumption

Major sport events often result in significant energy consumption in both the preparation period and during the event. The world’s biggest sport events are traditionally reliant upon fossil fuels, and it is becoming increasingly important for the industry to utilise renewable and clean energy sources, as well as look for ways to reduce energy consumption.

The UN has identified access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all as a key goal for sustainable development. A progress report published by the UN revealed that less than 18% of total global energy consumption is from renewable sources and the current rate of progress is insufficient to achieve the goal of affordable and clean energy by 2030. Ensuring major sport events are energy efficient is vital to ensure a more sustainable future for the sport industry.

Furthermore, clean energy solutions in major sporting events can help in establishing a society which is less reliant on fossil fuels and encourage a more sustainable future for all. Looking at examples, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games were recognised as a 100% renewable event. Some of the energy utilised for the event was sourced directly from renewable energy power utilities and power generated by renewable energy facilities at the event venues. Any energy from non-renewable sources was then converted with green certifications, allowing for the event to achieve a 100% renewable status.

Using Resources Responsibly

The responsible consumption of resources and management of waste is an important sustainability challenge associated with major sporting events, with plastic waste presenting one of the biggest challenges in ensuring responsible consumption. Planning ahead and encouraging sustainable behaviour amongst fans can help ensure that major sport events manage resources more efficiently. The 2018 London Marathon resulted in the use of 920,000 single use plastic bottles. Following this, the 2019 London marathon organisers hoped to reduce the amount of plastic waste produced by the event. In 2019, runners were handed seaweed pouches which were edible and biodegradable in place of traditional plastic bottles.

Raising awareness amongst fans and encouraging them to do their part is important in ensuring responsible consumption during major sport events. An example of this can be seen with ?initiatives displayed at the Greener Game match, a purpose driven collaboration between Arsenal FC and Southampton FC in April 2022. Collaborating with Final Straw Foundation, a wire fish sculpture was brought to the stadium on match day for fans to drop their single use plastics in, aiming to raise awareness amongst fans and encourage them to reduce their plastic consumption. Reusable plastic cups were also used at the stadium and fans were encouraged to place these in a cup collection after use.

Similarly, in reducing single use plastic, the World Athletics Championship 2022 in Oregon launched their “Bring Your Own Water Bottle” campaign during the championship event, where fans, media, coaches, volunteers, and athletes were encouraged to bring their own water bottles. To further these efforts, no single use plastic bottles were sold inside the stadium. Aside from plastic bottles, the Championship also developed a sustainable materials management framework in which whole life cycle impacts of materials used were analysed to prevent waste and toxicity. The signs used during the championship were a good example of this, as they were produced using materials which were less wasteful during manufacturing, inks which were less toxic, and designs which required lower levels of saturation.

Measuring Impact and Tracking Progress

Measuring impact and sustainability of a major sport event is a significant challenge but equally an important opportunity in driving progress towards a sustainable future in sport. There is no single established framework for measuring impact or sustainability at major events, however if done successfully, it can be instrumental in setting a benchmark and defining standards. The 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth games pledged to leave behind a long-term sustainable legacy and set a benchmark for future games in various areas of sustainability. The creation of the ‘Birmingham 2022 Inclusive Games Standard’ aimed to establish a framework for accessibility and inclusion in both the 2022 games and future games. Having been the first commonwealth games to publish a social values charter , the 2022 games were also the first to measure social value, which can now be used as a benchmark for future games. Additionally, the games partnered with Birmingham University to evaluate the impact the games would have on air quality, using sensors at the university.

Establishing a Positive Legacy

The 2022 Commonwealth Games have also demonstrated the opportunity which major sport events provide to establish a positive legacy in the places in which they are hosted, by establishing grassroots projects and encouraging long-term sustainable behaviour. “United by 2022”, a legacy charity created by and for the Games, will continue to support grassroots initiatives and serve the local community beyond the event. Community projects?include increasing access to accessible play spaces for young people, offering young people most impacted by the pandemic opportunities to develop their leadership and employability skills, and funding swimming lesson for children to ensure that they are provided with an essential lifesaving skill.

The London 2012 games demonstrate another example of how major sporting events have provided an opportunity to engage communities in host cities and establish a foundation for a more sustainable future. For instance, 106 community facilities were upgraded, and 400,000 Londoners took part in grassroots sports activities through the Mayor of London Sport Legacy programme. Clean-Up Initiative ‘Changing Places’ saw local residents participate in more than 40,000 hours of volunteer hours and extend the regeneration being undertaken in the Olympic Park into the neighbouring communities in London’s East End. Examples such as these show how the opportunity provided by major sport events to facilitate urban development can be leveraged to ensure that sustainability is embedded within a city’s?infrastructure not only during but ?also beyond the games.

Human Rights

UEFA, the governing body for European football, has recently made it a priority to "embed human rights [...] principles, standards and practices across the lifecycle of all football-related events" as part of its Football Sustainability Strategy 2030 . This includes the introduction of 7 key policies: Anti-Racism, Child & Youth Protection, Equality & Inclusion, Football for All Abilities, Health & Wellbeing, Refugee Support and Solidarity and Human Rights. Similarly, the International Olympic Committee, IOC, recently approved a Strategic Framework on Human Rights , stating that it would "inform processes and decisions related to the IOC administration and supply chain, the selection of future Olympic Games hosts and the delivery of the Olympic Games, as well as athletes' representation, and safe and inclusive sport."

The introduction of guidelines and frameworks on the inclusion of Human Rights considerations in major sporting events is an important step, however moving forward it will be important to ensure that the implementation of agreed upon measures is verified at regular intervals in the lead up to and during events. A best practice example of this can be found in the "Event Social Responsibility Strategy " published ahead of the UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany, which has included "Accountability and Transparency" as one of its guiding principles, stating the EURO 2024 company would "be available for detailed scrutiny of its activities from relevant authorities and partners." This will also include "independent verification work, comparable to an audit of the event" in relation to the event's social responsibility.

Summary

Major sport events have the opportunity to highlight sustainability on a global stage and contribute to meaningful change in the lead up to, during and after the event both in host locations and beyond. Whilst the importance of sustainability is beginning to be recognised in sport, it is vital that sustainable development is prioritised in the organisation, design and planning of the industry’s biggest events. Progress has been made, however much remains to be done in ensuring major sport events are sustainable and leave behind a positive, sustainable and long-term legacy.