In 2025, European Athletics has shown how major championships can power real change — proving that elite sport and sustainability go hand in hand.
From Maribor to Bergen to Tampere, local organisers embedded the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) into every aspect of their events, creating lasting environmental and social impact.
Maribor sets the standard
At the Maribor 2025 European Athletics Team Championships 2nd & 3rd Division in Slovenia, sustainability was a core value. It included:
- 120,000 single-use bottles replaced with refill stations and reusable cups — saving nearly 10 tonnes of CO2
- Free public transport, e-mobility, and cycling options cut car use
- Zero-waste measures and digital systems reduced resource use
- Inclusive volunteering and barrier-free venues promoted equity and access for all
- Maribor’s blueprint led to a net footprint under 12 tonnes of CO₂ setting a new benchmark for future hosts
Bergen inspires tomorrow’s heroes
The U23 Championships turned “Heroes of Tomorrow” into action by aligning every step with the UN SDGs, featuring:
- Local, healthy food; waste sorting; and low-emission transport reduced impact
- Children and seniors engaged through school and care-home programmes
- Athletes became ambassadors for sustainability, spreading positive habits beyond the track
- Bergen showed how a championship can become a community sustainability platform
Tampere leads by example
At the U20 Championships, Tampere proved that smart planning equals sustainability, it included:
- Existing stadiums and walkable accommodation cut travel emissions
- 3Rs policies, tree planting, and digitalisation minimised waste
- Free tickets for schoolchildren and safe, inclusive spaces reflected strong social values
- Tampere demonstrated how resource efficiency and integrity create a model for future events
A greener, fairer future
Across Europe, 2025’s athletics events left behind more than records — they built legacies of responsibility, inclusion, and inspiration, showing that sport can lead the race toward a greener, fairer future.