News article
Sustainability round-up: GB Taekwondo, UEFA, Welsh Rugby Union…
Also in the news: Somerset County Cricket Club, International Skating Union (ISU) and more…
The Welsh women’s national rugby team will wear a different kit to the men for the first time, following a consultation around period anxiety. The women will still wear the traditional red shirt, but will also wear red shorts and white socks, compared to the men’s side who will wear a red shirt, white shorts and red socks.
Football’s European governing body UEFA has released updated guidelines with the aim of ensuring the sport’s infrastructure is accessible to anyone who wants to take part across the continent. The UEFA Accessibility Guidelines focus on integrating accessibility into all aspects of football, including infrastructure, operational processes, workforce training, services and matchday activities. Check out next week’s newsletter for more on these updated guidelines.
Much like the Olympic triathlon events before them, the Paralympic triathlons were postponed for 24 hours due to poor water quality of the River Seine in Paris. All 11 triathlon races were due to take place on the same day, but heavy rain meant the Paris 2024 organisers had to postpone. The events were able to take place on Monday (Sep 2).
English National League football club Sutton United will offer its fans a discount on hot drinks if they bring a reusable cup for the rest of the 2024-25 season. The scheme will be in place for both men’s and women’s team fixtures.
World Athletics and Mondo have extended their long-term partnership with a focus on continued innovation in sports surfaces and cutting-edge equipment. “Mondo’s consistent commitment to excellence and their creative approach have made them a reliable partner for our sport,” said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe. “Their participation in the World Athletics Sustainability Strategy matches the high standards we demand from our partners.”
Somerset County Cricket Club has taken steps to reduce its carbon footprint by partnering with solar and energy storage installer, GB NRG. The business has provided and installed a photovoltaic system onto the roof of the Andrew Caddick Pavilion at Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton.
The recent staging of KPMG Women’s Irish Open highlighted sustainability and inclusion through a ‘deposit return scheme’, supported by Golf Ireland and ForeFront Sports. The scheme units were provided by TOMRA Collection Ireland, with attendees able to return cans and bottles. Two charities benefited from 50% of the refund value: Special Olympics Ireland and National Breast Cancer Research Ireland.
GB Taekwondo has launched the ‘Fighterbility’ campaign to create opportunities for new athletes and provide a path for individuals with upper-limb impairments to join the sport. The project is aimed at interested parties from the age of 15 and up, and are able to compete at K44 classification.
The International Skating Union (ISU), a progressive sporting organisation in the sustainability space, has announced a strategic partnership with the Chinese National Sports Group to grow Short Track Speed Skating globally. The sport enjoys popularity in China, and even more so since the staging of the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.
Sport England has announced that it will invest £120m to increase participation in sport and boost diversity at grassroots level, in a bid to inspire the next generation of Olympic and Paralympic participants.
Image: Welsh Rugby Union