25th May 2009 02:21
The two organisations will work together to develop a Sustainable Sport and Event Toolkit (SSET) - an online 'how to' guide for organisers interested in making their events more environmentally sound and sustainable.
European Athletics President Hansjörg Wirz said: 'Everyone is aware of how important it is to respect the environment and this applies to sports events. With this project, European Athletics is demonstrating leadership in this field as well as how the values of our sport can add to the quality of life.
'The SSET will also help organisers to become more cost efficient, attract support from institutions and sponsors and build our sport's image by making athletics events more responsible, ethical and sustainable.'
AISTS Assistant Director Matt Dolf said: 'The SSET is the first initiative of its kind in the sports industry. There is a need to improve the sustainability of sport events and the interest in the SSET as a practical guide for doing so is growing among sports organisations around the world.
'We are extremely proud to have the commitment and support of European Athletics as our first official Development Partner.'
The AISTS launched the SSET initiative in August 2008 in cooperation with the Vancouver Organising Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). The International Olympic Committee (IOC) became a principal supporting partner in March 2009.
Currently available in a test or 'beta' version, the SSET integrates standards and practices from leading sustainability authorities around the world, including the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO 1400-14006), the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI G3), the IOC Agenda 21 and Guide to Sport, Environment and Sustainable Development and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The toolkit provides practical support for organisers in the form of checklists and examples of best practice for a more sustainable approach to event organisation. It covers opportunities related to venue selection and construction, transportation, accommodation, catering, marketing and communications as well as the areas of community and supply chain involvement.
'In the coming months we will work with the AISTS and VANOC to add value to the SSET by drawing on the experience of major event and one-day meeting organisers from around Europe,' said Wirz. 'The end product will be a toolkit that is customised for athletics, which we can then promote throughout our sport starting next year.'
For more information on the SSET, visit www.aists.org/sset
The AISTS will host an SSET Seminar in Lausanne, Switzerland, on 18-19 June 2009. It will gather sustainability experts from around the world to discuss and present sport specific sustainable management and technology best practices. For more information on the SSET Seminar, visit www.aists.org/sustainable