Sustainability project
Approach
The French Athletics Federation and the European Athletics Association have both put forward their commitment to respectful practices regarding environment and social responsibility, the “Sustainable Development”. For instance, we have recently collaborated with the International Academy of Sports Sciences and Technology in Lausanne in order to set up guidelines for athletics events.
Through the Championships, the FFA and the EA would like to implement simple and practical actions to show to everybody that Sports and Athletics can contribute to a responsible approach to social and environmental issues. We would like the event’s visibility and its impact on the Athletic community to contribute to making Sports fans (spectators, athletes, organisers…) aware that simple acts, but also original initiatives, are enough to improve our responsible behaviour.
In practical terms
Each Commission of the Organising Committee has been made more aware of the approach in order to integrate this “sustainable” trend in all its proposals and decisions, with a double objective consisting in reducing CO2 emissions and improving the Championships from a social perspective, whilst ensuring a high standard of organisation.
For instance, travel is optimised: Accommodation is the closest to the competition site to reduce the impact caused by transport; some athletes will walk from their hotel to Paris-Bercy!
A real effort has been made for printing. Thanks to new technologies, some printing methods are non valid and can be replaced by other methods. For instance, volunteers are not recruited anymore with a questionnaire on a sheet of paper; we have chosen to set up an “online” form, avoiding any use of paper, even a development cost has been involved. We are also considering alternatives to usual duplications, often a source of waste.
During the event itself, we’ll collaborate closely with POPB, which is already at the forefront in its field, to coordinate our initiatives (energy saving, selective waste-sorting, selection of temporary facilities, access for disabled people…).
From a social perspective, we give priority to forming relationships with local associations by working with Athletics Clubs in the Ile de France region, but also by getting closer to associations in Paris and other regions for specific assignments (transport for instance).
Actions in “Sport and Health” and “Athletics for beginners” will be implemented in many areas in Paris for young people, in order to promote rules for a healthy lifestyle and good physical practices.
Other awareness approaches and actions will be implemented for thousands of spectators and the Athletic community, thanks to actions revealed up to the start of the European Championships.
Internet links: Policy of the European Athletics Association for the Sustainable Development (in English only)
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