GSS 2024 Announcement

Sustainability is a broad subject area which is not clearly defined for the sports industry.

The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals are often seen as too broad for sport and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) too narrow.

Sport has a unique set of assets that can reach almost every area of society.

Beyond the environmental (Planet), social (People) and governance (Power and Prosperity) framework sport can encourage society to get active through Participation programmes; use its unique Profile to promote and engage over half the world’s population and work with its key stakeholders, including fans, athletes, suppliers, sponsors and hosts, to achieve more sustainable outcomes through Partnerships.

Sustainability needs to sit at the core of every sports organisation. Sustainability departments need to sit alongside senior management and commercial departments to ensure that sustainability is integral to every key decision. Sustainability should be seen as an opportunity and not a cost. Purpose should determine every action.

GSS 2024 aims to change the perception of sustainability from a negative to a positive and to encourage sports organisations to start now to drive for a more sustainable future.

There is a lot of talk about the negative environmental impact that sport has on the planet and the impact that the environment is having on sport. But this needs to be balanced with the positive social and economic impact that sport can bring. The social and economic impacts should be maximised whilst the environmental impact is minimised. Adopting a more balanced approach to sustainability creates a new approach that sport can positively embrace.

GSS has developed the 7 Sustainable Pillars of Sport and Purpose (in bold above) and GSS 2024 will help sport’s stakeholders to understand how they can use the seven pillars to embed sustainability at the core of their organisations.

There are many great examples of where sustainability is being embedded in the core of an organisation. GSS 2024 aims to share knowledge and information on those organisations that are driving sustainability around the world through a series of online workshops and in-person events that will help sports organisations to develop their sustainability strategies. Whether you at the early stages of your sustainability journey or in the advanced stages, GSS 2024 offers something for you.

GSS 2024 will start in April with a series of online workshops that will cover the 7 Pillars, followed by an in-person congress in Munich in June during UEFA Euro 2024 and then a further set of workshops from September onwards.

The 7 Pillars have been broken into four workstreams with a wide variety of sub-streams:

• Partnerships for Purpose: Federations, NGOs, Events, Hosts, Leagues, Teams, Sponsors, Suppliers, Athletes

• People and Participation: Diversity, Equality & Inclusion, Human Rights, Women’s Sport, Adult Participation, Getting kids active, Active Lifestyle, Community, Volunteering
• Planet and Profile: Climate, Carbon, Oceans, Clean Air, Land, Bio-Diversity, Energy, Waste, Fan & Athlete Travel, Engagement
• Power and Prosperity: Governance, Circular Economy, Risk, Insurance, Innovation, Economic, Media, Commercial Rights, ROI

GSS 2024 will cover a broad range of subject areas including getting kids active, diversity, equality and inclusion, women’s sport, volunteering, community engagement, climate change, carbon footprint, winter sports, oceans, biodiversity, circular economy, risk, safeguarding, innovation, sustainable travel, commercial sustainability and fan engagement amongst others.

Participants in the programme can follow all or just one of the workstreams, whilst the congress will cover all four.

Academics, consultants, practitioners and sports stakeholders will provide case studies, knowledge and information on lessons learnt for their experiences in sustainability with GSS providing the framework and the platform for discussion.

Places for the GSS 2024 Congress in Munich are limited due to the UEFA Euros, but the event will provide a unique opportunity for the industry to come together around a major sporting event that has put sustainability at the heart of its event.

An ‘Early Bird’ registration rate for the congress only of €695 is offered until 31^st March 2024.

Rates for the online workshops and the congress are available through the online registration form, which is available on the link below:

GSS 2024 Registration Form

GSS 2024 is more than just a one-off event. It is a year-round engagement where the global sports community comes together to share knowledge, ideas and experiences with each other and to help each other become more purposeful and impactful, driving better outcomes through sport and sustainability.

Sustainability is an opportunity that every sports organisation needs to embrace.

Act now and join GSS 2024 today and help drive sustainability through sport and create a brighter future for sport and the planet.