Athletissima goes green with European Athletics toolkit
26th February 2010Lausanne's Athletissima, one of the world's top athletics meetings, will be using the online Sustainable Sports Event Toolkit co-developed by European Athletics to reduce its environmental footprint in 2010.
Athletissima 2010's Olivier Delapierre will lead work carried out by students from the International Academy of Sports Science (AISTS), co-creator of the SSET, who will use the toolkit to provide sustainability proposals based on environmental, social and economic analysis.
"By embracing environmental responsibility and putting in place appropriate activities we are taking a leadership position, bringing awareness to and positively enhancing our event," said Delapierre.
"The tool gives us a clear vision and set of objectives for our event, and our work this year will benefit the other athletics meetings that commit to using this valuable resource."
The SSET, which was launched by European Athletics and AISTS in October 2009, is a framework, set of guidelines and growing information database that make it possible for sport events to easily plan, manage and benefit from activities that impact their physical and social environment.
It uses "wiki" platform software, which makes it easy to upload experiences and case studies to share with other users.
"We are delighted to learn that Athletissima will be joining our European Athletics Championships in Barcelona and next year's European Athletics Indoor Championships in Paris in trying out SSET," says European Athletics Director General Christian Milz.
"I am sure they will find it useful and that their positive experience will convince other meeting and road race organisers around Europe to check out the tool on our website and help our sport become more green."
Athletissima, recently named part of the new IAAF Diamond League, is Lausanne's largest annual sporting event. It will take place at the Swiss city's Pontaise Stadium on 8 July 2010.