Air Quality & Sport Challenge launched on International Mountain Day
11 December 2021 - On the occasion of International Mountain Day, celebrated worldwide on 11 December, ThinkSport together with the Sustainable Sport Lab (SSL) and the Sustainable Mountain Alliance (SMA) announced the launch of the Air Quality & Sport Challenge.
The impact air quality has on athletes, events, organisers, and spectators has become a growing concern across the sports industry and across the globe in recent years. The issue is larger than any one organisation and can only be addressed through collaboration, commitment, and determination across industries. One part of the Challenge will be dedicated to identifying initiatives that demonstrate creativity and innovation in contributing to clean air in the mountains and that can serve as sustainable solutions for the alpine sport and tourism industries.
“We cannot accept that athletes suffer from poor air quality during competition, especially when solutions exist to address this problem. The Challenge will build bridges between the sport and non-sport industry to identify the best solutions for this increasingly pressing issue in sport.”, said Geert Hendriks, SandSI Founding Director.
For Anna Hellman, Director of ThinkSport, “The Air Quality & Sport Challenge is about encouraging and identifying solutions that inspire leadership, are innovative and illustrate thinking outside the box. We look for practical examples of what real climate action looks like.“
The specificities of the Air Quality & Sport Challenge will be announced early next year, alongside other Challenges ThinkSport is currently designing to initiate innovative thinking and action on pressing matters.
Solutions that have positive effects on reducing air pollution and adaptative solutions to air quality challenges may come from start-ups, established companies and not- for-profit organisations. An international jury will judge the entries with shortlisted challengers provided the chance to present their solution during THE SPOT (17-18 May 2022), ThinkSport’s international sport and innovation flagship event co-organised with SwissTech Convention Center (STCC) and supported by the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), the University of Lausanne (UNIL) and the canton of Vaud.
About the Sustainable Sport Lab
The Sustainable Sport Lab (SSL) is an international programme powered by Sport and Sustainability International (SandSI) that explores and engages sustainable innovations that advocate for high-impact systematic change across the global sport sector and foster collaboration among sporting entities to power this change. Click here for more information.
About the Sustainable Mountain Alliance
The Sustainable Mountain Alliance’s vision is to facilitate the transition to sustainable sport and tourism in the mountain environment. The SMA provides a collaborative platform that identifies and supports inspirational, innovative solutions and a regenerative economy in the mountains. Click here to learn more.
About ThinkSport
ThinkSport brings together bright minds from different sectors involved with sport and physical activity. We facilitate new partnerships, knowledge sharing, creative thinking and innovative projects - aimed at driving progress in sport. Check this link to know more about it.
Interested to learn more? Leave us your email to be kept informed about the Challenge.
