World Athletics Launches Innovative Annual Review to Boost Sustainability in Track and Field

Summary – World Athletics has unveiled its first annual review assessing the environmental and social impact of athletics meets to promote sustainability in the sport.,

Article –

World Athletics has introduced its first annual review assessing the environmental and social impact of athletics meetings as part of the new ‘Athletics for a Better World’ standard. This initiative aims to enhance sustainability in the sport by reducing environmental footprints and boosting social and economic contributions at athletics events globally.

What Happened?

On Tuesday, World Athletics released the inaugural review evaluating competitions against the ‘Athletics for a Better World’ framework. This standard targets:

• Minimizing environmental impacts such as carbon emissions, waste generation, and resource consumption
• Maximizing positive social outcomes and increasing local economic benefits

The review reflects the growing importance of sustainability in sports and international trends toward environmental and social governance in event management. It benchmarks multiple athletics meetings from the past year to provide metrics and recommendations on sustainability performance.

Key Numbers

The review covers numerous global competitions, highlighting progress such as:

1. Reductions in single-use plastics
2. Improved energy efficiency at venues
3. Greater local community engagement to ensure economic and social contributions

Carbon footprint calculations, waste management strategies, and social outreach programs are key elements assessed in the evaluation.

Locker-Room Reactions

The President of World Athletics expressed satisfaction with the initial review’s progress and reiterated the organization’s commitment to responsible athletics events. Quoting the President: “Our sport has a unique platform to influence sustainable practices globally. This review sets the foundation for continuous improvement and accountability.”

Event organizers highlighted the review’s importance in guiding sustainable event planning, recognizing both the challenges and benefits of implementing environmental and social responsibility in sports operations.

What Comes Next?

World Athletics plans to:

• Further refine and promote the ‘Athletics for a Better World’ standard
• Encourage wider adoption among event hosts and stakeholders
• Continue monitoring progress through future reviews
• Provide resources and support for competitions to meet sustainability criteria

This initiative aims to position athletics as a model for sustainability in sports, potentially shaping policies and best practices beyond the track. Upcoming athletics events are expected to apply these standards, with some already committing to sustainability goals inspired by the review.

About The Author

Bhavya

See author's posts