Zoom in and zoom out: Rhine-Ruhr 2025’s approach to sustainability

Not only can these events attract billions of viewers globally, but also tens or hundreds of thousands – if not millions – of in-person attendees. Multi-sport tournaments allow those watching to experience events they may not have even considered before. However the impact on the environment can be substantial.

Over recent years, major event hosts have placed a greater emphasis on operating as sustainably as possible.

Furthermore, an increasing number of International Federations that sanction such events have demanded the adoption of more sustainable practices. The International Olympic Committee’s Agenda 2020 and subsequent Agenda 2020+5 roadmaps have pushed Olympic Games hosts to reconsider their approach, but several other bodies have embarked on their own blueprints.

World Athletics’ ‘A Better World’ standard focuses on 42 action areas for all levels of event delivery, from procurement, waste management, energy, food and water management, to travel and accommodation planning. The standard also addresses diversity, accessibility and inclusion of staff and volunteers, and is scalable depending on the size of the event.

Levels will need to be met as part of the evaluation process for all World Athletics-licensed events, while cities that launched bids in the first half of 2023 were required to commit to achieving gold level.

Germany’s hosting of UEFA Euro 2024 has also paved the way for more sustainable major events.

The Euros are perhaps useful signpost for the country’s staging of the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games from July 11-27 next summer, which will feature thousands of student athletes across 18 different sports.

The Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region is the most densely populated region in Germany with approximately 14 million inhabitants, and is located in the west of the country. It includes some of Germany’s major cities such as Cologne, Düsseldorf and Dortmund.

In a bid to set a benchmark for the International University Sports Federation’s flagship event, the local organising committee recently published a pre-Games paper entitled ‘Zoom-in and Zoom-out: The Sustainability and Legacy Approach’.

The paper outlines the organisers’ current sustainability initiatives and goals, while asking questions such as: How can we make the Games as sustainable as possible? How will efforts contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)? And how can a positive social impact be created, while conveying the values of sport – respect, fair play, cohesion and commitment?

“Sustainability was already defined as a core conceptual element in the bid book, as was the focus on the SDGs,” Helen Gampper, Rhine-Ruhr 2025 organising committee’s Senior Manager, Legacy and Sustainability, tells Global Sustainable Sport.

“The task in the planning process was to then develop a concrete sustainability concept in order to minimise the impact on the environment and create positive social impact within the scope of budgetary possibilities.

“Pursuing this, the organising committee wants to take a big step forward on the path to ‘sustainable major sporting events’ and at the same time be a role model for future events.

“The Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region in particular has a great industrial past, and in times of climate and biodiversity crisis it is of crucial importance to promote the transformation to sustainable practices regionally, but also internationally, and all stakeholders are called upon to make their contribution, which is why the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games demonstrates efforts how green transformation is co-designed in and through sport.”

While the organising of future Games is in the hands of different committees, Gampper says Rhine-Ruhr 2025 will be happy to share best practices and lessons learned to help continue to reduce the environmental impact.

“Transparent and comprehensive reporting is key for this knowledge transfer,” says Gampper.

Rhine-Ruhr’s Games supervisor for Legacy and Sustainability Professor Dr Holger Preuss also noted that environmental and social sustainability play an “ever more important role alongside the traditional pursuit of economic goals”.

He said at the time of the pre-Games paper’s publication: “Our task to is to ensure that the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games are not only outstanding in sporting terms, but also have a sustainable and positive impact on the environment, society and the local economy.”

Zooming in

Around 10,000 student-athletes from around 170 countries will travel to Germany for the 32nd World University Games next summer.

The paper provides a deep dive of the organising committee’s objectives and its current progress.

The ‘Zoom-in’ perspective of the Games’ strategy leaned on the SGDs and recognised standards such as the German Sustainability Code (DNK) and the GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) performance indicators. An initial materiality analysis was undertaken between May and December 2023, where focus areas were developed. From February to March 2024, an academic audit of the sustainability goals and indicators was carried out by the project group ‘Sustainable Major Sporting Events in Germany’.

Meanwhile the ‘Zoom-out’ perspective demonstrated the proposed legacy by identifying impact dimensions through the analysis of social change drivers.

Environmental action

The Rhine-Ruhr region was specifically chosen for the location of the Games thanks to its existing sports venues and infrastructure. Environmental sustainability will be further supported by low-emission mobility solutions, renewable energy sources and resource-friendly procurement and waste management.

Additionally, the Games will focus on three key focus areas such as movement and health, diversity and inclusion, education and engagement. Objectives also include creating enthusiasm for movement, sports and health; promoting grassroots sport in the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region and throughout Germany; and inspiring active participation and involvement in university sports.

Parasport will also make its debut at the summer edition of the Games, with the addition of 3×3 wheelchair basketball.

Many initiatives are already underway, as detailed by the pre-Games paper. Committee employees have received training on inclusivity and diversity, while also signing the Diversity Charter. A number of projects have already been undertaken by the central stakeholder group of the event – students and representatives of the universities.

Lectures have been held across institutions, while there has been the further development of the FISU Young Reporters Programme, where students have the opportunity to feature as part of the accredited media team.

“The use of existing infrastructure and the modernisation of individual existing sports facilities that are considering environmental aspects and accessibility improvements as well as plannings according to the principle of short distances are in process already,” explains Gampper.

Gampper notes that the multi-use Lohrheidestadion has plans for the installation of photovoltaic systems, geothermal energy, eco-paving and green roofs.

Gampper continues: “Guidelines for sustainability in procurement have also been drawn up, which stipulate, among other things, that sports equipment should be procured according to the principle of renting before buying, and when there is no option of renting, we look for further reuse of the sports equipment already now, such as local sports clubs. For social sustainability, we already involve and engage with students (final theses, seminars, events etc.) and take care to reduce barriers in communication, for example through easy language, sign language and alternative texts.

“Apart from the Games sphere, we are also looking at the office sphere and implementing various measures to make office routines at the headquarter of the organising committee more sustainable.”

Pioneering work

In the ‘Zoom out’ section of the pre-Games paper, futurologist Anja Kirig aided the committee with establishing its legacy plans.

The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games hope to leave a lasting legacy for the region, as well as create a long-term positive impact. This means that there is not only a focus on ecological sustainability, but also economic impact and achieving long-term positive effects through aligning with the 17 SDGs.

Gampper says it is “critical” for organisers of major sporting events to prioritise sustainability, and establish the subject as a fundamental principle of action.

“Only then can organisers lower their environmental footprint, strengthen the local community and unleash the ‘power of sport’ to create positive long-term effects,” she comments.

“Major events also serve as a catalyst to transport environmental and social sustainability issues into the world of sport and society, for example, by raising awareness of environmental issues and influencing the behaviour of participants and spectators.”

Gampper concludes: “We would like to emphasise that sustainability is a shared concern and we count on the support and commitment of all stakeholders. The FISU World University Games 2025 offers a unique opportunity to showcase innovative and sustainable solutions that can have a positive impact far beyond the event.

“Sustainability continues to be pioneering work and we look forward to contributing to the SDGs and shaping a more sustainable future in and through sports together.”

The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games will take place from July 16-27 2025. You can read the pre-Games paper here. 

Images: FISU