This focus is part of a broader mission. As the FIBA announcement states, “The prestigious World Tour stop will showcase the role of FIBA 3×3 as a global leader in sustainable sporting events”. The event will feature a range of “visible eco-practices that encourage the engagement and contribution of players, fans, and stakeholders alike”.

Driving Carbon Neutrality and Green Innovation

The commitment to sustainability is underpinned by FIBA’s recent renewal of its ISO 20121 certification, which reinforces its dedication to “hosting sustainable 3×3 basketball events”.

To achieve its carbon-neutral ambition, the event has enlisted the expertise of SustainPro Solutions as its Official Sustainability Partner. This partnership will involve close collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council to ensure sustainability goals are “aligned with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 roadmap”. The overarching goal is to “establish FIBA 3×3 Competitions and Events as a model for sustainable sports events across the region”.

A Sustainability-First Venue Experience

A “sustainability-first design approach” will be applied throughout the entire venue and its surrounding infrastructure. This includes the use of “entirely sustainable materials” that also preserve “a distinctive UAE identity”.

Key activations include:

• Clean Energy: Solar installations will be used to power the on-site Sustainability Display Zone.
• Waste Elimination: A “solar-powered ‘Water Wall'” will dispense biodegradable paper cups to “encourage a refill culture and eliminate single-use plastics”.
• Waste Management: Strategically placed recycling stations will “track waste collection through verified reporting”.
• Clean Mobility: Electric vehicles will be used to “transport staff and delegates”.

Fans and Families Join the Mission

Engaging the public is a core component of the strategy. A “family-focused eco-workshop area will invite children to create bottle-cap medals, recycled trophies, and bottle planters from up-cycled materials”.

In a new initiative for 2025, FIBA 3×3 is also partnering with Impact Hero, a Berlin-based global impact-tech company. This collaboration will “introduce an interactive tree-planting activation designed to engage fans directly in sustainability efforts”. Visitors will be invited to “Plant a Tree & Help Save the Planet” by scanning a QR code at the Sustainability Zone. Each scan provides a “personalized digital certificate”, with a “live impact counter” tracking the collective action. This initiative will support “reforestation and sustainable livelihoods in the Global South”.

Measuring and Expanding the Legacy

The work will not stop when the event ends. Post-tournament, SustainPro Solutions will provide a “comprehensive Sustainability Report” to FIBA 3×3 and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council. This report “will present verified outcomes, carbon-offset data, and strategic recommendations to further enhance sustainability frameworks across future FIBA 3×3 events”.