While the planning and bidding process for large-scale sporting events is a long and strenuous task, organisers have now had to take on the importance of maintaining sustainability within their bids to ensure that the environmental impact of their bid is carbon neutral and friendly. 

Simon Hainsworth, Managing Director of Corporate and Sporting Events, analyses how far sporting event organisers have come in terms of building sustainable cities to host events like the Olympic Games and World Cup, and what more can be done to have a long-lasting positive impact. 

Extreme weather like floods and heatwaves – which are impacting the world with increasing regularity – have huge repercussions within sport and, in particular, large sporting events.

So, when it comes to us all making a concerted effort to live more environmentally-conscious lives, it makes sense that the sector should be at the forefront, especially when you consider that the football industry on its own produces the same amount of carbon dioxide annually as the entire output from Denmark (according to the Rapid Transition Alliance).

There are many factors to consider, from the modes of travel used by athletes, coaches and spectators, to the venues which play host to these events. And, while organisers have had a keen eye on sustainability in recent years, it’s clear more can be done to ‘go green’ on the pitch, along the track, and in the stands.

The history of sustainable sport

The mid-2000s saw a rise in the number of experts calling on more sustainability within sport. Early research papers, like those published by Anderson and Falt in 2006, used industry examples to make their point due to the lack of academic literature on the subject.

The FIFA World Cup which took place in the same year in Germany was the first to address environmental concerns, and around this time, the NFL began operating on a carbon-neutral basis.

Fast forward to 2013, and evaluations showed the impact of environmental programmes at major sporting events varied widely; by this time, experts were calling on environmental sustainability considerations to become a requirement for any city bidding to host a so-called ‘mega event’.

Then in 2024, we saw the Paris Olympics become the first to fully adopt the Olympic Agenda, promoting public transport and cycling for spectators while using hybrid and electric vehicles to get athletes to-and-from their events.

What more can be done?

It may be tempting for organisers to opt for highly-visible, less costly options like installing recycling bins in and around stadiums; but this can prove almost negligible in terms of impact if the rest of the event gives no consideration to environmental concerns. Real change can only come if every aspect of the planning and running of the event considers the environment. 

95% of the buildings used during the Paris Olympics were existing or temporary structures and – where new sites were required for specific events – organisers took care to include a wealth of eco features.

Take the Aquatics Centre, for example, which had a solar panel roof providing around a fifth of the building’s electric needs; seats made from recycled plastic bottle caps; bio-sourced materials for the frame and structure; and a concave roof which naturally heated the air and reduced the amount of space to be heated.

Not only did this reduce the environmental impact of the building, research also shows that using environmentally sustainable practices in new sports facilities could actually ‘inspire social change among spectators and fans’ (McCullough, 2013).

Naturally, it’s not just the buildings themselves – there are a wealth of other ways organisers can ensure they minimise their events’ long-term effects, such as the accommodation used by the athletes and coaches too. 

Many hotels are implementing a raft of environmental practices and policies, from the smaller gestures like asking guests to reuse towels and eliminating one-use plastic drinks bottles, to larger-scale changes such as their choice of air conditioning and heating units, implementing timed sensors for room lights, sourcing local materials, and using eco-furnishings.

When it comes to travel and logistics, organisers can offset emissions from flights or long-distance journeys through the use of hybrid and electric vehicles when transporting athletes to and from sporting venues – especially where there are a large number of athletes and their entourage.

In essence, simply doing the research when it comes to hotel, transport and logistics choices can help organisers boost their eco-credentials throughout their event.

And, ultimately, if more organisers echo these conscious choices, collectively the sporting events industry can reduce its impact on the environment – and inspire millions of sports fans around the world to do the same.

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