World Triathlon has announced that the AJ Bell 2022 World Triathlon Championship Series Leeds event has been awarded with the Gold Certification of Sustainability by World Triathlon. This is… ‘for efforts and measures implemented throughout the event to contribute toward sustainability.’
Two years ago, World Triathlon decided to implement Sustainability Guidelines for event organisers as a tool to give organising committees the means to initiate or continue their transition towards social and environmental responsibility.
Taking this guidance on board, WTCS Leeds has become the first World Triathlon event to achieve gold certification. Sustainability is a central component for British Triathlon, with the national governing body establishing a Sustainability Commission to determine a sustainability framework for the sport domestically in Great Britain.
“It is a great pleasure to see how the WTCS Leeds team has implemented sustainability into various areas of delivery and, whilst a number of them will be unseen by participants and spectators, there are a few that everyone will notice and be able to contribute towards,” said Marisol Casado, IOC member and World Triathlon President.
She continued, “Our organisation is fully committed to reducing the impact that our events have, and we have worked in the last few years to implement many sustainability measures within the organisation.
“To see now an event as important as Leeds taking all these measures on board is extremely rewarding for us all. We have been working with all our stakeholders, especially with event organisers, to implement sustainable measures across all areas of the events: governance, staffing, site & infrastructure, accommodation, procurement, mobility, energy, catering, waste management, water management, biodiversity, healthy lifestyle, merchandising, raising awareness, communication… and the efforts done by the Leeds LOC have overachieved our goals.”
Andy Salmon, British Triathlon CEO, said “Sustainability is incredibly important to us at British Triathlon and we’re taking steps to ensuring that we, as an organisation and a sport, are operating and delivering activity sustainably.
“To be presented with the Gold Certification of Sustainability from World Triathlon shows the commitment we have put in place to ensuring the events we organise are delivered in a sustainable way, and is a great marker as we build towards sharing our sustainability framework later this year.”
Non Stanford, elite British triathlete and athlete representative on the World Triathlon Environmental Sustainability Commission, said “Sustainability is a major area within the world of international sport and sporting events, and I’m really excited that AJ Bell 2022 World Triathlon Championship Series Leeds has been awarded with Gold Level Certification.
“It’s the first event to receive the award and represents all the hard work that the organising committee have put into hosting a world class event in a sustainable way. For the British leg of the World Triathlon Championship Series to get this recognition is also something I’m personally delighted about, especially with it being in my home city.”
The WTCS Leeds’ organising team has been busy weaving sustainability into all areas of delivery and, whilst a number of them will be unseen by participants and spectators, there are a few that will be noticed.
This year will see 2021 built upon as, once again, event medals are made from wood that is from FSC certified forests in South Wales. The finisher gift is a specially designed pair of socks made from recycled plastic.
Sticking with the recycled theme, merchandise from the event is made using recycled plastics, with further items made with sustainable organic cotton also on offer.
The event is also working with the University of Leeds to provide a kit donation service, through which old and unwanted kit can be gifted to communities in South Africa.
The University of Leeds is looking for cycling clothing in good condition (bib shorts, jerseys and gloves especially) to help support its Bambisanani project. The project delivers sports leadership training, academic lessons and sports participation in South African primary schools and orphanages.
Merchandise from the event that remains unsold beyond the sale period will be donated to the project, with merchandise from previous British Triathlon events also being donated.
When on site, plenty of bins will be dotted around. These are for all waste, with the bins being taken away and the contents divided into recyclable and non-recyclable materials by Leeds City Council. The non-recyclable waste is then formed into waste-derived fuel rather than put into landfill.
There will also be further sustainable changes to the finish area and racing experience to reduce plastic usage and waste. The cups from aid stations will be recycled or made from biodegradable materials, whilst the finish line water will be supplied in sustainably sourced cartons made from SC Certified paperboard and Bonsucro Certified sugarcane caps.
www.leeds.triathlon.org
www.triathlon.org
