4th February 2013 01:38
In a workshop setting, the 14 participants discussed the background and implementation of the project, which aims to engage the public in sustainability-themed activities that bring value to the local community and promote the event.
Each championship host city will conduct a local campaign in which its citizens will be invited to design their own activities and request the European Athletics Green Inspiration label to recognise their efforts. The project is based on the 'Inspired by' campaign that was successfully implemented by the organisers of the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
A central element of the local campaigns will be an EcoChamps page on the event websites where members of the public can pledge to do mini-projects from a list of positive actions for their community or the environment and link their good deeds to the championships. The website will be used for the first time in Göteborg in conjunction with the European Athletics Indoor Championships in March.
The workshop participants also outlined the specific measures their LOCs are planning to ensure their events are delivered with sustainability at the top of the priority list.
The five 2013 events taking part in the project are:
- European Athletics Indoor Championships, Gothenburg
- European Team Championships, Gateshead
- European Athletics Junior Championships, Rieti
- European Atheltics U23 Championships, Tampere
- European Cross Country Championships, Belgrade
The Green Inspiration project will run through the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Belgrade in December. It will be evaluated in early 2014, and if the initial results are positive it will be extended to other athletics events in Europe.