European Athletics’ last major event of the year coincided with COP28, the world’s biggest gathering of climate experts, currently coming to a conclusion in Dubai.
The SPAR European Cross Country Championships 2023 took place in Brussels on Sunday, just two days before the scheduled end of the annual conference hosted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC).
The annual meeting seeks to strike international agreements to lower greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2), to address global warming.
And in the Belgian capital, spectators, athletes, officials and volunteers were each able toexperience multiple innovations to support the planet’s transition to environmental sustainability., in conjunction with a world-class sporting event.
European Athletics now requires any bid to host any its major events to embed sustainability into their planning, and the Brussels 2023 Local Organising Committee (LOC) stepped up to the challenge for Europe's premier cross country event.
CLEAN ENERGY
Energy use is responsible for 75% of all greenhouse gas emissions in Europe through burning fossil fuels such as oil, oil products, natural gas, coal and peat according to the European Union.
Consequently, in order to limit such emissions, the temporary power onsite for the SPAR European Cross Country Championships was run nearly entirely on clean biofuels and battery packs. Biofuels are produced from plants or agricultural, domestic, or industrial biowaste as a clean alternative to fossil fuels.
A RACE TO LOWER WASTE
In Laeken Park itself, there was also been an major effort to considerably reduce waste at the venue with an emphasis on biodegradable and recyclable items, consequently lowering the amount of waste going to landfill.
Catering management saw technical partners and VIPs eating from plates made from corn starch, volunteer lunches were served in paper rather than plastic bags, and reusable cups were also deployed.
Throughout the Park, litter zones had clearly marked recycling containers available for spectators to dispose of and sustainably manage waste.
Similarly, there no single-use facilities for the event was used with tents, toilets and other staging and construction being temporary and reusable. Event banners, branding and boarding will be also recycled.
ECO TEAM SUPPORT
To generate a climate-friendly culture at the event, a volunteer Eco Team was at the event. The Team's role was to promote recycling and to clean up any trash, leaving Laeken Park and leave no trace of event litter.
Spectators travelling to the event were encouraged to travel by foot, bicycle or by public transport to lower the CO2 emissions from transport. They were also invited to engage with the Eco Charter on display at the event, which cited environmental initiatives.
Alongside the international races, there is an emphasis on social sustainability with local clubs helping to support and deliver the event. This also included masters races held the previous day which supported broader participation in the event and sport in general.
As at any major international athletics event, gold was a colour on the mind of many but green was also at the forefront of everyone's thinking at the 2023 SPAR European Cross Country Championships.