Sustainability

At the FIFA World Cup 2006, an environmental concept with quantifiable target amounts was implemented for the first time at a major sporting event. The EURO 2008 shall represent a thematic further development to the 2006 World Cup. With the consistent focus upon the goals of sustainable development, which equally considers the three basic pillars of environment, economics and social/culture, the EURO 2008 shall be anchored in the minds of visitors and the general public as the sustainable European Football Championship. The EURO 2008 can prove that with good preparation, large sporting events can boost (regional) business, have but minor consequences for the environment, provide a cultural festival among players and fans from various nations and function as a counteraction against racism and xenophobia.

Towards this end, the Sustainability Strategy, which was created together with Austria, was introduced to the public at the end of June 2007, and contains around 60 measures to be taken. Many of the measures contained in the Sustainability Strategy are components of the Infrastructure and Transport Sector, National Promotion and Projects and Measures in Switzerland.

The Sustainability Strategy is not conceived as an additional sector, but is intended to have a cross-sectional character. To be emphasized in particular are the efforts involving in the setting of environmental standards for major events, such as in the area of waste, where a reusable cup system is being pursued and the consistent reduction of the CO2 balance through the use of green electricity.

A sustainability taskforce has been established to implement the Sustainability Strategy. Represented on the executive committee are the Federal Office for Spatial Development (ARE) and the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) as well as the UEFA EURO 2008 Public Authorities Project Organisation (PAPO). Further partners in the Sustainability Taskforce include the host cities, Euro 2008 SA, Perron8 (organizers of the UBS Arenas), SBB, the Swiss Federal Office of Energy and the Research Institute for Leisure and Tourism in Bern.