Sustainability a joint endeavour for all-action OC
Two symposiums and a conference: it’s gearing up to be a busy few days for the sustainability team of the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games.
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Having already released a pioneering pre-Games paper on the topic and reviewed the performance of the recent Olympic Games in Paris,the team will now be engaging actively across the region over the next fortnight.
“Sustainability is a key factor and guiding principle in the planning of our event,” Helen Gampper, the Organising Committee’s senior manager for legacy and sustainability, says. “To take into account the various facets such as ecological, economic and social sustainability, we are joining forces with local and scientific stakeholders and networks at various events, because sustainability is a joint endeavour.”
The events began in September, when Gampper and her team attended the BUNA conferencein Essen and the 2nd Sustainable Sports Symposium at Heidelberg University. On 23 October the whistle-stop tour will resume at the University of Leipzig, with a speech from Gampper on 'Sustainability Management at the FISU World University Games 2025' during the annual Steinberg Symposium for applied research in sport.
More information about the symposium can be found here.
‘Active contribution’
Two weeks later, on 6 November, the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), in cooperation with the German Sport University Cologne and the Öko-Institut, will host a final symposium in Frankfurt am Main on the topic of 'Sustainable Sport Events in Germany'.
The symposium will provide an opportunity for dialogue and networking and is intended to help generate positive impetus, share knowledge, and secure support for the hosting sustainable sports events.
“We are delighted to be able to make an active contribution to this process and to take on responsibility,” Gampper, who is also currently working on the updated pre-Games paper (version 2.0), adds. “As part of the project, the German Sport University Cologne has reviewed our sustainability strategy to ensure that our planning is in line with the latest findings.”
As well as the unveiling of a new web portal, the symposium will feature a keynote speech and an interim summary by Niklas Börger, CEO of the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games.
Gampper will again be present, this time at the World Café – a chance for sustainability managers to share their experiences and challenges of sustainability management in practice at different sports events.
The programme and registration for this symposium can be found here.
Youth conference
Finally, on 8 November, the Organising Committee will take part in a youth conference on sustainability in sport at the Strassenkicker Base sports complex in Cologne.
Organised by LAG 21 NRW - an independent network for administration, civil society and politics based in Dortmund – the conference will be held under the title 'On the pitch: young pioneers' perspectives on sustainable sport' and will see young, committed people share their visions for sustainable sport.
Afterwards, the best examples of sustainable action in sports clubs will be honoured at the ‘WestDerby Zukunft’ - the awards evening for sustainable sports clubs.
The event is aimed at students, trainees, young volunteers aged 18-26 and interested people of all ages and is free of charge. The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 sustainability team will be present with an information stand and is looking forward to an inspiring exchange.
Sustainability network conference of the International German Gymnastics Festival Leipzig 2025
On 16 November, the International German Gymnastics Festival Leipzig 2025 is hosting a sustainability network conference at the Faculty of Sports Science at Leipzig University as part of its sustainability programme. The conference offers exciting lectures, practical workshops and the opportunity to exchange ideas about sustainable club work. Participation is open to anyone interested in making sport more sustainable.
Photo: © AdobeStock/ tonjung