The uncertainty surrounding the timings of the 2022 World Cup is set to continue until 24th February and the country is able to host at any time of year, according to the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC). 

The World Cup traditionally takes place during the northern hemisphere’s summer months, during which the European football leagues take a break.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Sheikh Salman bin Abraham Al Khalifa of Bahrain’s earlier this week asserted that the World Cup would take place in the winter, preferably November and December 2022, and that "the matter is resolved."

But Nasser Al-Khater, the executive director of communications and marketing at the Qatar 2022 SC is reported to have said a press conference at the Doha’s Aspire Zone: "Look, first and foremost we are confident of hosting the World Cup anytime of the year. 

“It is also no secret that the peak tourism timing is November and December.”

According to Inside World Football, Al Khater said “There is a meeting of the task force on the 24th of February. What we understand is that a final decision will be recommended during that meeting. It's the last meeting of the task force to discuss a winter or a summer World Cup."

Qatar’s summer months reach blistering heats of over 50 degrees centigrade and many observers have commented on the risks of hosting football matches in these conditions. 

The SC says it has the cooling technology to overcome these challenges. 

“We believe the methods and principles [of cooling] are a solution for many countries that will host the World Cup and other events in the future,” Al Khater said.

“Utilising this technology on such a large scale and having to think outside the box, we are really providing optimal climate conditions."

The SC also told press that Qatar’s venue infrastructure projects are on schedule, with five stadiums under construction and two more set for an imminent design launch. 

Al Khater also faced questions about FIFA’s investigations into the manner in which Qatar was elected as World Cup host.

"It's important to highlight it's an investigation into the bidding process of 2018/2022, but also into individuals," he said.

"Everyone coins it as an investigation into Qatar, which is absolutely false and incorrect. We are happy with judge Eckert's conclusion. At times it was a bit harsh, but, you know this is a World Cup and you will always have criticism and negativity."

The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy – the organisation in charge of building and kitting out venues for the 2022 FIFA World Cup – has has signed a contract with Qatar Mobility Innovations Center (QMIC) to adopt its Hawa’ak air quality monitoring system.

QMIC has fully developed Hawa’ak to monitor air quality, weather, climate and other environmental conditions in real time. Using an “Internet of Things” platform, it allows users to access this information via multiple channels including mobile delivery, and web portals.

Hawa’ak takes advantage of a new generation of mobile sensor stations that can be distributed across a wide area to deliver localised and personalised air quality information.

“We believe that carefully monitoring environment and air quality conditions is a critical part of building and maintaining proposed host venues for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar,” said Yasir Al Jamal, acting assistant secretary general for delivery affairs at the Supreme Committee. 

“We are very pleased to have selected the Hawa’ak system from QMIC to furnish our stadiums with weather & air quality monitoring stations.”

The Supreme Committee is keen to use the World Cup as an opportunity to develop a range of industries within the host nation. In addition to delivering sports infrastructure, the Supreme Committee aims to boost the development of Qatar’s private sector and streamline regulations.

“We believe that utilizing innovative technologies and systems that are developed in Qatar will help in creating sustainable new industries, which support our strategy of creating a legacy in the country,” said Al Jamal. 

The collected, processed and refined weather and air quality information will be accessible to the Supreme Committee and its subsidiaries through a range of channels such as web portals, mobile applications, hard copy reports, and alerts among others.

The Supreme Committee says this information will contribute to building a rich bank of data that will drive the creation of new services and applications optimised for enterprises, government agencies and consumers.

“We would like to thank the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy for putting their trust in us,” said Dr. Adnan Abu-Dayya, executive director of QMIC. “All along, QMIC has focused on developing and deploying intelligent systems and services to support the needs of important market segments in Qatar including environment, transportation, and road safety. Our strategic partnership with SC will help us scale up our plans and achieve our goals faster in the field of environment.”

Cities are often seen as the problem rather than the solution when it comes to pollution – particularly in the rapidly developing world. But according to the mayor of Lima, which hosts global climate negotiations next week, cities are where global environmental challenges can be best tackled.

“The challenge of supporting economic growth and tackling climate change will be met in the world’s cities,” said Susana Villarán, mayor of Lima, speaking on the publication of five studies by the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate ahead of the Global Climate Change Conference in Lima.

Lima, one of the fastest growing cities in Latin America with more than seven million inhabitants, is the focus on one of these studies. The city faces substantial increases in energy bills and more greenhouse gas emissions unless action is taken.

The research conducted for the Global Commission shows that, through effective investments in transport, Lima can reduce its carbon emissions by 15 per cent by 2025 while saving citizens US$1.1bn per annum in energy bills. These investments could be paid back in less than three years, building on the improvements already implemented in the city. 

“Investing in public transport is good for citizens, good for business and good for the climate,” said Villarán. “This study shows that it is in the economic interest of the city and of its people to build better. Clear leadership is now needed to make this vision a reality.”

Lima is just one of many cities that can use transport upgrades to make a massive change to the world’s climate. According to the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, better, more efficient transport systems could enable the world’s 724 largest cities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 1.4 billion tonnes of CO2 a year – greater than the annual emissions of Japan.

Deploying low carbon technologies, such as new building technologies and electric buses, across 30 megacities could create more than 2 million jobs, while avoiding 3 billion tonnes of cumulative greenhouse gas emissions, the Commission says.

Lima is hosting the Pan American Games in 2019, an international mega event that can act as a catalyst for the host city to invest in sustainable urban development. 

The Global Commission also cited the World Cup host city of Curitiba in Brazil, which has accommodated a threefold increase in population since the 1960s while achieving per capita greenhouse gas emissions 25 per cent lower and gasoline consumption 30 per cent lower than the national average. 

“Over the next two decades, cities will grow by over a billion people and generate two thirds of global economic growth,” said Graham Floater of LSE Cities at the London School of Economics and director of the Global Commission’s cities research. 

“If this rapid urban growth is managed badly, we face a world of sprawling, inefficient, polluted cities – and a major climate change risk. But a new breed of cities is emerging with compact, connected development – innovative cities that are more productive, attractive and low carbon.”

The Global Commission highlighted Stockholm for its leadership in reducing emissions by 35% from 1993 to 2010 while its economy grew by 41 per cent. In London, car ownership decreased 6 per cent from 1995 to 2011 as while the city’s economy grew by 40 per cent.

"Mayors and policy-makers adopting low-carbon strategies are making their cities more liveable and more attractive to talent and entrepreneurs, said Ani Dasgupta of the World Resources Institute Ross Center for Sustainable Cities. “The economy and the environment of urban cities go hand-in-hand in creating growth."

A modular solution from Arena Seating – part of global event supply company Arena Group – has been selected for St George's Park, the English FA’s national football centre. 

Five uncovered demountable grandstands, consisting of four tiers each, will be located along a covered, elevated walkway overlooking the elite training pitch and reconfigured as required by the venue’s event programme. 

Speaking at Soccerex Global Convention in Manchester, Dave Withey, Arena UK & Europe’s sales and marketing director, said: “It will essentially be a permanent installation to begin with, but the modular nature of the system means that the grandstands can quickly and easily be reconfigured and moved elsewhere when needed; such as the indoor Futsal hall or any of the 12 outdoor pitches. 

“St George’s Park hosts a variety of different events, in various locations across the site, so the ability to do this was a vital part of the FA’s brief. They can then be moved back to the elite training pitch, negating the need for any additional storage facilities.” 

 The grandstands will be installed on the 15th October by six crew in a single day. Arena Seating will train St George’s Park on how to reconfigure and extend the grandstand for larger events, using Arena’s rental stock.

“There is no need for permanent construction work, making it extremely cost effective,” said Withey. “This is achieved without compromising on spectator comfort and viewing angles, which is very important for a world class facility like this.” 

St George’s Park, based in Burton-upon-Trent in Staffordshire, is the preparation ground for all of the England national football teams and home to the FA’s coaching and development work. 

Arena Group is exhibiting at Soccerex Global Convention at stand 219. The company will also be exhibiting at HOST CITY: BID TO WIN conference, which takes place in London on 28th October 2014. For more information visit www.bidtowin-hostcity.net

The Estádio Nacional in Brasilia produces more solar energy than 11 countries competing in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, according to a report by UK non-governmental organisation Practical Action. 

The solar production of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Cameroon, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Iran, Ivory Coast and Uruguay all fall below the 2.5 MW capability of the stadium in Brazil’s capital. 

Ghana’s national solar capacity matches that of the stadium, which will host seven matches during the world’s largest single sport event.

Three other World Cup stadiums also have major solar power installations, the Mineirão in Belo Horizonte producing 1.4MW, the Itaipava Arena in Pernambuco producing 1MW and the rebuilt Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro producing 500KW. 

These observations were reported by Practical Action on Wednesday, on the back of their new Poor Peoples’ Energy Outlook report.

Simon Trace, CEO of Practical Action said: “The organisers and FIFA are to be congratulated for making a considerable financial investment and making this the greenest World Cup in history.”

The Estádio Nacional in Brasilia cost US$640m stadium, making it one of the most expensive stadiums in history and starkly contrasting with the economic situation of many of the competing nations.

“It is.. an indictment of the investment in renewable energy in the developing world that there are ten competing countries that do not even produce as much solar energy as a single World Cup stadium,” said Trace.

“Currently more than one billion people live without access to reliable sources of energy. Without that, people cannot develop and there will always be a substantial proportion of the world’s population living in poverty.

“Our report found that the only way of reaching the vast majority of these populations is not via traditional grid-based electrification as found in the west, but via smaller scale, renewable off-grid solutions such as solar, hydro and wind.

“It is therefore vital that we follow the example set by the World Cup organisers and invest heavily in the new technology we are seeing used so well in Brazil.” 

A company that provided took its temporary seating solutions from London 2012 to the Brazil 2014 World Cup is one of the UK’s top exporters, according to research conducted by Richard Branson’s Fast Track agency for the Sunday Times. 

Arena Group began showcasing its innovative temporary seating systems in HOST CITY magazine in the run-up to London 2012, where it built the Populous-designed beach volleyball arena and provided seating for the weightlifting, boxing, fencing, table tennis and judo events. 

For the Brazil 2014 World Cup, Arena Group supplied two 9,000+ seat demountable grandstands for the Arena do Sao Paulo – the largest temporary structures in Brazil. Through a local partnership, it also installed seats for Salvador's World Cup stadium.

“The ranking is testament to the vision that we’ve had for the company since long before the London 2012 Olympics; to become a trusted, global provider of event overlay services and the highest quality temporary event infrastructure,” said Greg Lawless, CEO of Arena Group. 

“This international growth has been a fundamental part of the group’s strategic plan, and we have made acquisitions which have positioned us to secure contracts for the next generation of major international sporting events.”

Arena Group’s  two year average international sales growth reached 54 per cent, with international sales reaching £10.5m in 2012. The company is also the official overlay and temporary structures provider to Glasgow 2014.

HOST CITY has been profiling London 2012’s quiet revolution in the temporary overlay for many years, through interviews with the organising committee and its key suppliers in this area, including Arena Group and Populous.

“We would like to congratulate Arena Group on making the upper reaches of the International Track 200,”said Ben Avison, editor of HOST CITY magazine.

“It has been gratifying to see these temporary seating solutions being taken up by the organisers of the 2014 World Cup and we look forward to seeing this positive trend continue in future sustainable mega events.” 

As Qatar’s preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup enter the construction phase, the World Stadium Congress brings architects, solutions providers and stadium operations consultants to Doha on 19th May 2014. 

This year’s World Stadium Congress, organised by IQPC, will focus on stadium design, sustainability and construction challenges. 

ASTAD Project Management's H.E. Ali Bin Nasser Al Khalifa and SPOR SANAYI's Yasar Meral will open the first day of the conference with keynotes on world-class sporting infrastructure. 

H.E. Ali Bin Nasser will provide an insight into the highly anticipated FIFA World Cup in Qatar in a session titled "Delivering world-class infrastructure to support Qatar 2022."

“Exceptional project management will play a critical role in the delivering a memorable mega-event," said H.E. Ali Bin Nasser. 

"We will draw from ASTAD's significant experience building sports facilities in Qatar, but it is also important for senior stakeholders within the industry to share their expertise and knowledge so that we may identify solutions to common challenges and ensure continuous improvement in design and construction."

Tariq Al Abudulla, General Manager of the Qatar Olympic Academy and Head of Technical Affairs at the Qatar Olympic Committee, will follow with a keynote address on Day Two, laying out the Qatar Olympic Academy's unique Sport Venue Management programme.

Other speakers include Jon Sellins, head of business development consultancy at Wembley Stadium, who will draw from the Champions League Final 2013 to convey best practices in hosting and facilitating major sporting events.

Sustainability is the keyword at this year's conference. "It is important to us that the lasting impact of our stadiums on the community is a positive one," said Diogo Taddei, architecture manager at AECOM, Brazil. 

"In designing the sporting and non-competition facilities for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, we took Rio's and Brazil's sporting ambitions into account and focused on the provision of a cost-efficient design for permanent and temporary venues. The legacy conversion plan cannot be overlooked."

Dan Meis, global director of sport at Woods Bagot, will also discuss stadium legacy and community integration, showcasing AS Roma's new €700m stadium as a mixed-use sports and entertainment destination.

"Given the number of stadiums that are being contemplated for the region, it is very important to discuss how we can ensure that these venues continue to benefit the community beyond the tournaments for which they were built," he said.

The congress will also feature panels, case studies and roundtable discussions. Meis, Taddei, Mark Fenwick of RFA Irribarren Architects, and Markus Pfisterer, director of GMP Architekten, will sit on a panel on trends in stadium design. 

J Parrish, Director of Global Sports, AECOM, UK, event chair Paul Hyett of HKS Architects will also feature in roundtable discussions, along with representatives from Honeywell and Grundfos.

This year’s World Stadium Congress will host a financial perspective for the first time. Nermine Nassif Girgis Ishak, Head of Corporate Banking at Al Khaliji Commercial Bank will deliver a talk entitled "Financing growth and capitalising on development opportunities," an examination of opportunities in the Qatar projects market for local and international players.

Sustainable construction has not historically been a leading concern when developers confront the challenge of erecting an arena from scratch to a pressing deadline. But gradually the green agenda has gained ground in the list of key considerations for hosting sporting events, while some leading clubs have also developed environmental awareness.

The US has been the trailblazer, with many of the biggest names in American sport now belonging to the Green Sports Alliance, a non-profit organisation that helps members enhance their environmental performance.

Founded in 2011 by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s investment company Vulcan, the alliance now has 125 venues, 105 teams and seven leagues as members.

As identified in the NRDC’s “Game Changer” report, greener stadiums not only benefit the environment and cut utility bills but also have potential to improve community ties, attract corporate sponsors and can boost the local economy.

We can expect even greater commitment to sustainability from big sports clubs globally in the coming years. The current issue of HOST CITY magazine looks at three stadiums that set standards for other developers to aspire to.

1: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US

This is the only stadium in the National Football League (NFL) that is home to more than one club. But the energy savings it has achieved since opening in April 2010 go far beyond the benefits derived from the ground-sharing arrangement between the New York Giants and New York Jets.

Find out more in the current issue of HOST CITY magazine.

2: Estádio Nacional, Brasilia

Few stadiums globally have earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design [LEED] awards of any level from the US-based Green Building Council.

Now, this US$640m stadium in Brazil’s capital is ready not only to host seven matches in the World Cup but to seek the highest LEED rating available: platinum.

Find out more in the current issue of HOST CITY magazine.

3: Marlins Park, Miami

The 37,442 capacity stadium became the first in Major League Baseball to achieve LEED gold certification for new construction in 2012, surpassing Miami Marlins’ initial ambition of achieving silver.

Find out more in the current issue of HOST CITY magazine.

Host City is an annual conference where experts consider best practices in hosting major sports events. One key topic discussed at Host City 2024 was sustainability. On a panel entitled “Inspiring Action Through Major Events”, the panellists discussed the upcoming 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow - a landmark event that is attempting to redefine the way large-scale international events are delivered, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, social inclusion and the environment. This article considers the points made by the panel in light of recent literature to posit that more compact versions of mega sports events, with a focus on sustainability and engaging local communities, can be more financially viable and still deliver a lasting legacy:

• Towards a newer ‘compact’ version of the Commonwealth Games
• The importance of properly integrating with local communities
• How to strike a balance between local communities and global audience?
• Lessons learned and lessons shared: the importance of knowledge sharing

The panel comprised of:

• Katie Sadlier, Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation,
• George Black, Chair of Glasgow 2026,
• James McVeigh, Head of Innovation and Marketing, Festivals Edinburgh

Towards a newer ‘compact’ version of the Commonwealth Games

Katie Sadlier set the tone for the conversation by describing the Commonwealth Games Federation's strategic rethinking of the Games' traditional model. Historically, hosting such a worldwide event has been a privilege often reserved for wealthier, major markets with significant infrastructural resources. The expectation in this model is that the city would be all-encompassing, able to carry the full burden of hosting. Sadlier said Glasgow 2026 will mark a new beginning in adopting co-hosting, where the costs will be shared among cities for financial sustainability and inclusion. The new approach envisions not only relaxing the barriers for emerging-market cities in their bids but also falls in line with the greater trend towards sustainable practices. Although Glasgow 2026 will be a single-city host, it will be a stepping stone toward the future. For Glasgow, this represents a serious commitment to devising a leaner, resource-conscious Games with long-term benefits for surrounding communities.

Sustainable urban development and the utilisation of existing facilities to create lasting benefits for host cities has become a key feature of host city bids since at least London’s 2012 Olympics.[1] However, central to Glasgow 2026’s sustainability agenda is its compact design, which significantly reduces logistical and environmental challenges. George Black elaborated on the innovative approach being adopted, calling it “the most compact Games ever”. ‘Compact’ in this sense means that the plan involves using just four venues, all situated within walking distance of one another. This not only minimizes operational costs but also drastically cuts down on the carbon footprint typically associated with transportation for participants, spectators, and staff. Social and environmental sustainability are interlinked," Black said. By decreasing the geographic footprint of the event, Glasgow 2026 is also encouraging much more community ownership and involvement.

The importance of properly integrating with local communities

The Commonwealth Games has faced significant challenges in recent years, with a variety of cities from Australia, Canada and South Africa since 2015 either withdrawing from bidding or hosting the Games. For Victoria, Australia, who withdrew from hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games in 2023, the primary reason was cost overruns, with initial estimates of AU$2.6 billion surging to over AU$6 billion. Therefore, with an increasingly challenging financial landscape, the argument for slimmed-down games as providing a blueprint for survival has gained significant traction.[2] More compact versions of mega sports events utilise fewer venues and emphasise community ownership. Taks, Chalip, and Green explore how small- and medium-sized sporting events can positively affect local communities by leveraging existing infrastructure and fostering community engagement.[3] Their conceptual framework considers that local residents are more likely to participate in smaller events as spectators, volunteers, or organisers, thereby enhancing social cohesion and a sense of belonging. Adapting a similar framework to support mega sports events such as the Commonwealth Games therefore may prove fruitful.

James McVeigh, at the Host City panel, similarly advanced the "localism agenda," and stressed that host cities must look increasingly inward to set their priorities and exploit local strengths. Localism involves using existing venues, reducing the high costs and environmental impacts of building new infrastructure often witnessed in mega sports events. For McVeigh, major events are not solely about attracting international attention or increasing tourism; they are about making a tangible and lasting impact on the communities that host them. Localism means making the aims of the event compatible with the needs and aspirations of the host city. In Glasgow, for example, this engages issues of accessible housing, job creation, and improvements in public transport—things that will make a real difference to the local population. At the same time, however, McVeigh stressed that a locally focused event also needs an international dimension if the Games are to remain inspiring to a worldwide audience.

How to strike a balance between local communities and global audience?

This is, of course, not an easy balance to strike, and one which will vary dependent on the location and nature of the sporting event. Localism for a larger event will also mean mitigating detrimental impacts to the local population—avoiding a sense that it is being imposed. Infrastructure developments are pertinent to scrutinise in this context. Minimisation of disruption to residents in terms of their housing and ability to pursue their lives may be fundamental, allaying fears of similar negative experiences arising which were reported amongst local residents at Porto Alegre at the 2014 FIFA Men’s World Cup.[4] The current authors argue that engaging local residents from the early planning stages from the local community is vital. This aligns with long standing research, which argues that for urban regeneration efforts to be effective, they must explicitly focus on disadvantaged areas and actively seek community participation.[5]

All panel members agreed that for events such as the Commonwealth Games to succeed, they should balance local priorities with reaching new audiences and attracting diverse funding. This requires a clear vision and purpose that connects with local stakeholders and a wider network of partners, funders and viewers. McVeigh described this as "communicating inspiration": how the Games can be a vehicle for social change and community empowerment. This messaging helps attract international sponsors and media attention, whilst fostering a sense of shared ownership among stakeholders at all levels. It is likely that the most successful events of the future will be able to reach a suitable balance whereby a wide spectrum of interests—local, international, commercial and community-based, are adequately engaged.

Lessons learned and lessons shared: the importance of knowledge sharing

A long-term strategy of Glasgow 2026 is its focus on knowledge sharing. George Black emphasised that strong mechanisms for collecting and publishing data are required, which will be useful for future host cities to benchmark against. Such transparency will not only promote accountability but also align with a key International Association of Event Hosts’ (IAEH) objective: providing opportunities to share best practice from lessons learned. Black highlighted the need for metrics to cover financial expenditures, environmental impacts and community benefits.

There is little doubt that a leaner model of the Commonwealth Games will require specialised use of metrics and collaboration between stakeholders, as well as a willingness to rethink traditional approaches. Financial sustainability will need creative ideas for sharing costs and generating revenue, whilst still promoting accessibility. The compact design of the event appears efficient but could create limitations in terms of capacity and scalability, meaning that demand will need to be carefully managed.

Glasgow 2026 will represent a pertinent case study for compact design, sustainability and an application of the localism agenda. Glasgow’s role in collaboration, innovation and inspiration in supporting this version of the Games cannot be underestimated. How Glasgow responds to the challenge of balancing local community needs with the expectations of a global audience will be crucial.

About the authors: Alexander Chrysanthou is Senior Lecturer and Course Leader, BA (Hons) Sports Business and Sports Law at UCFB and Executive Committee Member of the International Association of Event Hosts; Sebastian Poulson is a third-year UCFB Sports Business & Sports Law student.

This article was first published on www.lawinsport.com

Reference List

FT, Glasgow’s slimmed-down Commonwealth Games provides blueprint for survival, 19 September 2024. Glasgow’s slimmed-down Commonwealth Games provides blueprint for survival

Graeff, B., & Giulianotti, R. (2024). Global sport mega-events and local community impacts: The case of housing and redevelopment in Porto Alegre at the 2014 Men’s World Cup finals in Brazil. Sport in Society, 1–17. Full article: Global sport mega-events and local community impacts: the case of housing and redevelopment in Porto Alegre at the 2014 Men’s World Cup finals in Brazil

Viehoff, V., & Poynter, G. (Eds.). (2015). Mega-event cities: Urban legacies of global sports Events. Routledge.

Smith, A. (2012). Events and urban regeneration: The strategic use of events to revitalise cities. Routledge.

Taks, M., Chalip, L., & Green, B. C. (2015). Impacts and strategic outcomes from non-mega sport events for local communities. European Sport Management Quarterly, 15(1), 1–6. scholar.uwindsor.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1022&context=humankineticspub

To mark World Environment Day (5 June), the organisers of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships have today published the event’s Sustainability Report, bringing together the various activities and impacts achieved by the inaugural event which took place in Glasgow and across Scotland from 3-13 August.

[Source: EventScotland] As a purpose-led event, the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships were committed to embedding sustainability into the organisation, collaborating with partners and supporting the value chain to drive progress to create a greener and more sustainable future for both cycling events as well as for Scotland.

The report builds on the independent Ernst & Young socio-economic impact evaluation report published on 7 February 2024.

Sustainability was a core objective in delivering an innovative, world-class event that would provide a model for the future. The Championship’s Sustainability Framework and its ten high-level commitments were put in place, outlining core values and guiding principles mapped against the pillars of ‘People, Place and Planet’ in alignment with and to drive progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships also signed the United Nations Sport for Climate Action Framework and was one of the founding signatories of the UCI’s Climate Action Charter, further cementing its ambitions to reduce cycling’s environmental impacts.

As part of its commitment to sustainability, the 2023 UCI Cycling Worlds undertook a voluntary Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) assessment mapped against the UN SDGs and using the UCI’s new Sustainability Impact Tracker. The report showed the Championships contributed to 14 out of 17 UN SDGs, demonstrating the wide range of sustainable activities undertaken, highlighting the commitment to a sustainable approach to event delivery. 

The Championships were also the first event to use the UCI’s Sustainability Impact Tracker to measure its carbon emissions, with the report showing the total carbon footprint of the event calculated as 61.1ktCO2e. Most of these emissions fall within Scope 3 “Other indirect emissions” with the biggest contributing factors being in the ‘travel’ category. This benchmark data will benefit future combined UCI Cycling World Championships and other major sporting events in Scotland and the UK.

Other achievements highlighted in the report include:

• 86% of stakeholders felt the Championships were delivered in an environmentally responsible way.
• Appointment of EDP (Event Delivery Partners) Sustainability Champions to implement and drive sustainability measures within each individual event.
• Development of a ‘Good Food Charter’ and the establishment of the Event Delivery Partners Sustainability Champions network, with learning and best practice captured to provide a blueprint for future events.
• the creation of a Sustainable Procurement Code, which provided a link across the Championship’s Hub and Spoke delivery model, raising awareness of the minimum standards expected to support sustainability, EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) and low carbon emissions ambitions.

The Championships’ commitment to sustainability also included social responsibility, with the report highlighted:

• 97% of people who attended the event felt it was inclusive.
• 93% of spectators with a disability found the event to be accessible.
• Over 90% of attendance at events were non-ticketed, facilitating greater access to watch and take part.

The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships’ ambition to drive awareness and highlight the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion have been recognised, winning the Diversity in Sport Award and Diversity by Design Award at the Herald & Gen Analytics Diversity Awards and the Access All Areas Diversity and Inclusion Awards.  

The Sustainability Report, along with other reports produced by the 2023 UCI Cycling Worlds Championships, will provide a baseline and a blueprint for future events. Read the full report.

David Lappartient, UCI President, said: “Tackling climate change is one of the priorities of the UCI’s Agenda 2030, with one of our aims being to make our UCI World Championships carbon neutral or negative. To do this, we need a base to work from, and I am delighted that we have a solid Sustainability Report from the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships. The local organisers of last year’s inaugural UCI Cycling World Championships made great headway when it comes to sustainability and social responsibility, and I look forward to this momentum being continued at future UCI events.”

Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: “The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships were a truly memorable event and an excellent platform to showcase Scotland’s commitment to building a sustainable future.

"This report shows that large international sporting events can successfully embed environmental and social responsibility as a core principle, benefitting the wider community as well as athletes and fans.

“It's further evidence that the powerful legacy of the Championships extends beyond simply winning medals – in addition to boosting Scotland's economy and inspiring healthier lifestyles, they have also set the standard for innovative, world-class events."

Paul Bush OBE, 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships Chairman, said: “The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships aimed to champion sustainability in the world of sport, and we are proud of the effort we have made to drive meaningful change.

“The Sustainability Report provides useful insight, learnings and recommendations that will help deliver sustainable events and encourage innovation in the future.

“Collaboration and partnership working were vital to achieving our sustainability objectives and I thank everyone, from our funding partners, event delivery partners and local authority hosts to the athletes and spectators, for all their help in delivering on our ambitions.”

The inaugural 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships brought together 13 individual UCI Cycling World Championships, welcoming more than 7,000 elite and amateur cyclists from 131 countries, with around 1 million spectators attending over the 11 days of the event.

The Championships delivered significant social, economic and environmental benefits for Glasgow, Scotland and the UK, including £344m of incremental spend resulting in £205m Gross Value Added (GVA) economic impact for Scotland, and generated £220m Total Visitor Spend in Scotland. 

The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships had a TV audience of 537 million. It was broadcast in 130 countries, totalling around 14,000 hours of programming, and around 200 million hours were watched live on television globally over 11 days.