Resources

From Bid to Report: Meeting Sustainability Expectations Across the Event Hosting Cycle

Hugo Viseu, Senior Event and Infrastructure Sustainability Manager at UEFA, presented to IAEH members on how sustainability requirements are set, evaluated and audited across the full lifecycle of a UEFA event, from bid requirements through to verification and legacy.

The session set out how bidders and host cities can position themselves to meet, and exceed, those expectations. The presentation here covers the following:

UEFA’s strategic approach to event sustainability
– Event sustainability policy within the UEFA Football Sustainability Strategy 2030
– The Event Sustainability Performance Evaluation System (ESPES)
– The ESG event strategy matrix
– The event lifecycle from bid requirements and bid dossier to host appointment, strategy, action plan, delivery and reporting
– Worked example of a strategy timeline for an annual competition, from analysis of ESPES targets to final budget allocation

Sustainability in the bid process
– Sustainability as one of the eleven chapters of UEFA bid documentation, with requirements aligned to ESPES target levels
– Development of a Sustainability Concept by the bidder, including commitments on ESPES reporting, human and financial resources, and delivery of ESG targets
– How the sustainability concept evaluation feeds into overall bid evaluation

Areas of action, with example KPIs
– Climate action: spectator, organiser, team and guest travel; public transport; charging infrastructure; carbon fund
– Sustainable infrastructure: significant applications
– Circular economy: the 4R principle of reduce, reuse, recycle and recover
– Rights protection: online grievance mechanism, matchday rapid response team, online abuse monitoring
– Accessibility: wheelchair and easy access seating at the cheapest ticket price with free companion, wheelchair loan and buggy services, audio-descriptive commentary, accessibility info points
– Governance: local spend, workforce training, economic impact and event sustainability budget

The role of the bidders and host cities
– Engagement between the local organising structure and the host city sustainability manager, and identification of city counterparts across transport, waste and sustainability functions
– Environmental actions in the city: applied considerations
– Social actions in the city: practical examples
– Governance actions in the city: dialogue and visibility
– Fan zones and festival sites: key considerations

How to strengthen an event host’s bid
– Consultation
– City programmes and bid proposals
– Stadium surround issues
– Using the event as a catalyst for lasting improvements
– Sustainability and legacy in a communications plan

UEFA guidance referenced in the session includes the Sustainable Infrastructure Guidelines, the Circular Economy Guidelines and Event Checklist, the Accessibility Guidelines, the Healthy and Sustainable Catering Guidelines and the UEFA Carbon Footprint Calculator.