SportsPro’s first themed week of 2023 will showcase and scrutinise the individuals and organisations who are driving sustainability in sport.
Leading up to its third annual Sustainability Hackathon, which will see teams from ten universities go head-to-head from 24th to 26th February, SportsPro and its various platforms will become a hub for in-depth features, exclusive interviews, opinion pieces and podcasts exploring how the sports industry is trying to balance people, planet and profit.
Over the course of the week, we’ll hear from organisations such as Liverpool FC, SailGP, Vista, Ottawa Tourism and IMG about their ongoing sustainability efforts, as well as WNBA star Napheesa Collier, ultrarunner Damian Hall and ice hockey player Jacquie Pierri on why they are joining other eco-conscious athletes in taking up the fight against climate change.
We’ll highlight the sports properties leading the way when it comes to social and environmental impact, as well as going deep on the broadcast sector’s efforts to become greener, purpose-driven sponsorships, and how the top motorsport series are tracking against their ambitious sustainability goals.
The next SportsPro Insider Series virtual event, taking place on 22nd February, will also have a sustainability focus, with representatives from the City of Copenhagen, Wonderful Copenhagen and Laureus Sport for Good set to discuss how to deliver a major sporting event responsibly.
Check back here for new releases throughout the week and sign up to the SportsPro Daily newsletter to have all of the content delivered directly to your inbox.
Part one: What does it take to walk the talk on sustainability?
Sports sustainability is rife with hollow gimmicks and lofty pledges, yet some leagues and teams are going the extra mile by making action on social and environmental causes an organisation-wide priority.
Part two: Why these athletes are taking the climate fight into their own hands
The threat of climate change is inspiring athletes to become climate activists. SportsPro speaks with WNBA star Napheesa Collier, ultrarunner Damian Hall and ice hockey player Jacquie Pierri about the steps they are taking to champion sustainability, and why sport needs to act before it is too late.
Part three: How sports broadcasters are pursuing a greener future
With practices like remote production achieving wider adoption, SportsPro looks at how the sports broadcasting sector is streamlining its operations to become more environmentally friendly, and what else media companies can do to become more sustainable.
Part four: A radical approach to climate is the next frontier for sport’s sustainability movement
Matthew Campelli, founder of The Sustainability Report, outlines why sports organisations need to go even further than their current commitments if they want to become true climate action leaders.
Part five: How are the top motorsport series tracking against their sustainability goals?
Motorsport properties around the world may have made ambitious pledges to reduce their impact on the environment, but are those promises being actioned? SportsPro analyses the progress various series have made towards their sustainability targets.
Part six: Tackling the challenge of green broadcasting with US Ski & Snowboard CEO Sophie Goldschmidt
On this week’s episode of the StreamTime Podcast, co-hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone are joined by Sophie Goldschmidt, chief executive of US Ski & Snowboard, and Outside chief executive Robin Thurston.
The discussion explores how NGBs can align their media goals with sustainability, while also focusing on grassroots development and participation.
Part seven: Why the Nordic bid for Women’s Euro 2025 has sustainability at its core
With Uefa set to reveal the next host of its Women’s European Championship in April, SportsPro speaks to the Danish FA and Copenhagen event organisers about the joint Nordic bid to stage the national team tournament.
Part eight: SailGP’s Fiona Morgan explains the purpose of sport for purpose; plus Ottawa’s host city credentials
On this week’s SportsPro Podcast, news editor Tom Bassam digs into the meaning of sport for purpose with SailGP’s chief purpose officer, Fiona Morgan, before George Breare talks to the team at Ottawa Tourism to find out why the Canadian capital thinks it can offer something different as a host city.
Part nine: Barbershops, dog groomers and candlemakers… how Liverpool’s Vista partnership is spotlighting local businesses
Marketing and design firm Vista and English soccer giants Liverpool have been working together to highlight local businesses across the city. SportsPro speaks to those behind the deal about how they are bringing greater attention to those in the community.
Related posts
More of SportsPro’s sustainability coverage
Want more sustainability-related content? See below for a selection of our coverage:
Sport for Good Playbook
A how-to guide for brands looking to create and implement a fit-for-purpose sports sustainability strategy.
Too expensive? Just a fad? Fans don’t care? Debunking myths in sports sustainability
Sports sustainability is a fast-growing and increasingly important field, yet it is plagued by myths and misconceptions. SailGP’s Fiona Morgan and Susie Tomson, the director of sustainability at ThinkBeyond, separate the truth from the chatter.
Nike, Lego, SAP, Visa: Why these brands are sector-leaders in sporting impact
The Laureus Sport For Good Index celebrates the positive impact being made through sport by brands from a variety of sectors. SportsPro looks at how the class of 2022 are leading their industries in sustainability and using sport to further their purpose-led objectives.
‘There are times when there’s no choice but to act’: Patagonia’s purpose and the power of brand activism
Activism has become a key device in Patagonia’s self-proclaimed quest to ‘save our home planet’. Gina Lovett, the outdoor gear brand’s environmental initiatives manager, explains how the company is using political levers and collective action to drive progress.
Introducing the Sports Partner Score Card, a scouting report for sponsorship due diligence
Developed by 5T Sports Group, the Sports Partner Score Card offers rights holders and brands a new, data-driven way of assessing the suitability of prospective partners based on sustainability credentials and values alignment. With a focus on Heineken and three of its most high-profile sports partners – Uefa, Formula One and Formula E – SportsPro delves into the data to understand how the scoring framework works in practice.
How SailGP’s Denmark Grand Prix is setting the standard for sustainable sporting events
SportsPro travelled to Copenhagen’s Denmark Sail Grand Prix to hear from organisers and competitors about why the city is a perfect fit for the F50 catamaran racing series.
‘Our partnership revenue grew fivefold’: Sports sustainability experts make the business case for carbon reduction
Sustainability ranks high on the agenda for just about every sports organisation today. But what is the commercial case for reducing carbon emissions, and why aren’t brands and rights holders doing more to reduce their impact?
To find out more about SportsPro’s future themed weeks, click here.
