European Championships Munich 2022 demonstrate major event sustainability

The city of Munich benefited from an input of €122m (£105m/$131m) and an advertising value of €486m. The European Championships 2022 was the largest multi-sport event to be held in Germany since the 1972 Olympic Games and featured nine Olympic sports, as well as festival The Roofs.

The use of water dispensers also helped to save 500,000 PET bottles and over 5,000kg of banners and flag fabric was recycled. The event also proved to be inclusive, with 120 hours of services with audio descriptions, inductive hearing systems or sign language interpretation and more.

Some 83,000 children and young people benefited from the Future Class of 22 initiative before and during the event, leaving a lasting social impact.

Sustainability was at the core of the European Championships, with organisers relying on long-term concepts and the re-use of existing infrastructures. Only 2% of the buildings used were temporary, with 1% being renovated and 97% being existing infrastructure. There were no new buildings involved.

Organisers also achieved climate neutrality by compensating the event-related CO2 footprint of 8,699.84 t CO2, with 10,962 climate protection contributions made when buying tickets.

The Local Organising Committee was also commended for it efforts recently with the SPOBIS Award for Sustainability in Sport.

Marion Schöne, Managing Director of Olympiapark München, said: “We are proud that we have succeeded in integrating sustainable aspects extensively at a sporting event of this size and in compliance with the budget, enabling social participation and raising awareness of environmental issues. We have set ourselves this task and are sure that we have contributed to a more sustainable future of major sporting events with the hosting of the European Championships Munich 2022.

“We are particularly pleased that this commitment has now also been awarded the SPOBIS Award for Sustainability in Sport.”

Bavarian Minister of State for the Interior, for Sport and Integration, Joachim Herrmann, added: “The largest multi-sport event in Munich since the 1972 Olympics has met expectations in all respects. The old Olympic sports venues shone in new splendour and with the topic of sustainability, the European Championships have set exemplary standards.”

Image: ian kelsall on Unsplash