News article
Sustainability round-up: June 29
The week’s sustainability round-up includes a look at the search of the Paris 2024 headquarters, female footballers’ problems with football boots, QPR’s new sustainable training ground, Silverstone’s partnership with Santander and English cricket’s issues with racism, classism, sexism and elitism.
Paris 2024 headquarters were searched by police recently as part of investigations into alleged embezzlement of public funds and favouritism, prosecutors have said. The offices of the organising committee’s infrastructure partner SOLIDEO were also searched. The French national financial prosecutor’s office said the headquarters were searched amid a preliminary investigation launched in 2017 into contracts made by the organising committee.
Over 80% of female football players at top European clubs have suffered regular discomfort because of their football boots. Research from the European Clubs Association also found that most boots on the market were mostly designed for males. A fifth of those surveyed said they customised boots and 34% of female players said they experienced discomfort in their heel.
English Championship football club Queens Park Rangers (QPR) has celebrated the opening of its new sustainability focused training crowd. Engineering consultants Buro Happold played a key role in creating a sustainable project, with the facility boasting solar panels and air source heat pumps, resulting in a 35% reduction in energy demand and a 77% decrease in carbon dioxide emissions. Buro Happold also used the project as a test for its embodied carbon tool.
Silverstone circuit has announced a partnership with financial services group Santander UK to become an official sustainability partner. The partnership will help Silverstone to develop into a smart, sustainable venue, with Santander helping the circuit to switch to a fleet of zero or low emission vehicles supplied through Santander Consumer Finance. The bank will also expand its Santander Cycles scheme to Silverstone.
The Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) has found that racism, sexism, classism and elitism is ‘widespread’ across English and Welsh cricket. The ICEC made 44 recommendations, and demanded that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) make an unreserved public apology for its failings.