World Indoor Championships Glasgow 24 earns platinum level recognition for sustainable delivery | News | Glasgow 24

• Pioneering initiatives to be integrated into Glasgow’s wider events portfolio

• ABW standard a core pillar of World Athletics’ sustainability strategy – second progress report released today

• When fully adopted, the World Athletics Standard will have the widest reach of any sustainability assessment system in the sports industry

The Glasgow 24 World Indoor Athletics Championships became the first event to achieve platinum level recognition under the Athletics for a Better World (ABW) Standard, the evaluation system implemented by World Athletics this year that measures an event’s performance at the area of ​​sustainable implementation.

The recognition, announced to mark Earth Day, came after an extensive review by a team of international sustainability experts of the local organizing committee’s approach to the environmental and social impacts of the event. The announcement coincides with the release of the World Athletics Sustainability Report 2022-2023detailing the development and implementation of the Athletics for a Better World Standard, World Championships and one-day events initiatives, athlete empowerment and views, and progress on the six pillars of the World Athletics Sustainability Strategy.

Efforts to incorporate social impact and environmental sustainability into the delivery and legacy of the championships were a strong focus for event organizers who developed several groundbreaking initiatives.

• More than 800 employees and volunteers received mental health training to help them organize a mentally healthy event for themselves, athletes, officials and spectators. The project, developed by the event’s partner, Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH), was a first of its kind for an event in Scotland.
• Organizers also worked with a food bank on the city’s east side to redistribute all surplus food from the event – ​​more than 1,000 meals – to forge a positive partnership that has paved the way for future events in the city. Glasgow Arena.
• Efforts to reduce the event’s carbon emissions include partnerships with public transport, a catering menu with an extensive selection of plant-based options and awareness events, panel discussions and activations in the months leading up to and during the championships.
• And to complement the event’s legacy, a dedicated social impact project manager, hired by the local organizing committee, will remain in place to continue this work with the Glasgow Life events team, who already have plans to integrate positive social impact into Glasgow’s wider events portfolio .

“From the outset, the local organizing committee has been strongly committed to maximizing the social impact and reducing the environmental impact of this event,” said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe. “They did this by having a strong vision and investing resources efficiently to provide a textbook example of what a sustainable athletics event looks like. The Glasgow team has set the highest bar.”

Councilor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “Glasgow is extremely proud to have been recognized by World Athletics for its approach to social responsibility when hosting the World Indoor Athletics Championships last month.

“Reaching platinum level at the Athletics for a Better World Standard, the highest level ever awarded to an event host city, is a huge accolade. It is a testament to the vision, commitment and ambition of the local organizing committee led by Glasgow Life and UK Athletics.

“The team was determined to integrate sustainability into Glasgow’s plans to deliver a successful, world-class event, without compromising the needs of our planet. Glasgow is increasingly recognized as a world leader in sustainability and this award gives us a strong foundation from which to host future events.”

Second sustainability report released

The ABW Standard consists of 55 action areas that address all levels of event delivery, measured in terms of how they align with the six pillars of the World Athletics Sustainability Strategy, released in 2020. These areas include purchasing, waste management, energy, food and water management, travel and accommodation planning. Diversity, accessibility and inclusivity of staff and volunteers are also discussed, as well as ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of all participants.

The World Athletics Sustainability Report 2022-23, also published today, highlights the progress made on the ABW standard since its unveiling in December 2021. Organizers of more than 300 one-day athletics competition series events and tagged road races have introduced to the ABW Standard. Several dozen events tested the standard system in 2022 and more than 100 of its testing elements in 2023, providing valuable input ahead of its implementation on January 1, 2024, when sustainability reporting became a mandatory part of World Athletics’ broader event evaluation process.

When fully adopted, the ABW standard will have the widest reach of any sustainability evaluation system in the sports industry.

Although reporting against the ABW standard was not mandatory for the Glasgow competition, all World Athletics Series (WAS) events with bidding opened in the second half of 2023 will be contractually obliged to commit to a high level of performance. The 2027 World Championships in Beijing will be the first WAS event to deliver a gold-level performance. Glasgow scored 108 out of 120 available points in the differentiated ABW standard to meet the platinum level threshold.

Kaukab Stewart, Scotland’s Secretary of State for Culture, Europe and International Development, said: “Following the success of hosting the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Glasgow, it is news that the event has achieved platinum recognition in the Athletics for a Better World Standard, because sustainability is an achievement for everyone. can be proud of.

“Going forward, sustainability will play an increasingly important role in the organization of major events and awards as these can help drive ongoing efforts to reach net zero targets and support the local economy.”

Ian Beattie, Chairman of UK Athletics and Co-Chair of the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24 Steering Group, said: “After organizing an unforgettable World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24, it is fantastic news to hear that the championships have reached platinum level. have achieved against the Athletics for a Better World Standard regarding sustainability. It is a credit to the entire team working on the championships that they have achieved the highest possible standard and demonstrated that they are world leaders in this field.

“Not only was it a fantastic event on the track and field in Glasgow, but this great event showed how it can be run sustainably and used as a model for future championships. Congratulations to everyone involved in achieving this incredible achievement.”

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland Director of Events, said: “Glasgow and Scotland provided the perfect stage for the 2024 World Indoor Athletics Championships, delivering a truly memorable event. The recognition by World Athletics for the event’s work to deliver environmental and social impacts from the championships, being awarded Platinum against the Athletics for a Better World Standard, is an astonishing outcome.

“Events play an important role in our communities and give us all the opportunity to come together and share memorable experiences. They also provide the opportunity to leave a lasting positive impact and it is clear that the Championships have done this for Glasgow.”

Esther Britten, Head of Major Events at UK Sport, said: “We are delighted to have supported our event hosting partners in developing and implementing a robust sustainability plan that has led to this Platinum accreditation. We are committed to ensuring that all major events hosted in Britain take place with environmental sustainability at their heart.”