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Sports Organizations Must Think Sustainably About Future Calendar Plans

Sport leaders must "set a new standard" for sustainability when adding extra events to the calendars.

FIFA's plans for a major international men's tournament every summer and UEFA's proposals for an additional 100 Champions League matches per season may not, at first glance, seem in line with reducing the ecological footprint of sport.

At the start of a new tournament or competition, sustainability should be the priority - with a clear focus on how natural resources are managed and carbon emissions offset.

Rafi Addlestone, associate director at financial services provider Deloitte, said, "At the start of a new tournament or competition, sustainability should be the priority - with a clear focus on how natural resources are managed and carbon emissions offset. Even better, these new events provide a fantastic platform to engage fans with sustainability from the outset and collaborate with regulators and others within the industry to set a new standard prioritizing sustainable measures, by communicating what these are and the impact they have."

UEFA is launching a new sustainability strategy in December and aims to strive for 'zero impact' events using a Sustainable Event Management System (SEMS).

FIFA unveiled a new climate strategy at the Cop26 summit of world leaders in Glasgow, committing to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040. The calendar plans include a reduction in the total number of qualifying matches, which would reduce players' air miles crisscrossing continents and, according to FIFA, effectively offset tournaments held every summer.

The 2022 World Cup final in Qatar is being organized with the ambition to be climate-neutral and plastic-neutral. Future hosts, including the United States, Canada, and Mexico in 2026, are expected to implement "stringent and robust" measures to prioritize sustainability.

Addlestone emphasizes that sports must lead the conversation on sustainability. "It's crucial because sports touch every corner of society on every continent. We need the industry to stand up for the urgent need for climate action, both by motivating fans to take action and by improving the industry's own sustainability - this will accelerate the race to net-zero faster and farther. Individual athletes can be role models in their behavior and activists in using their voice."

Addlestone expects that athletes and organizations that do not embrace sustainability will fall out of step with the future consumer. "As consumer demands related to climate action continue to grow, it is likely they will align their loyalty with organizations committed to change. To put it simply, as fans 'go green,' the sports they follow must do the same."

Sources: SportProMedia