Celebrating sustainability: Hamburg's EURO 2024 sets new standards!

Celebrating sustainability: Hamburg's EURO 2024 sets new standards!

The UEFA EURO 2024 in Hamburg was not only a sporting highlight, but also set standards in terms of sustainability and inclusion. Over 600,000 people visited the fan zone with public viewing on the Heiligengeistfeld. The Senator for the Environment, Climate, Energy and Agriculture, Katharina Fegebank, explained that the event took place in a sign of diversity and social responsibility. “We do good business with sustainability,” said the senator. The fan zone received the Green Events seal in the highest level, “Premium”.

The variety of initiatives that were implemented during the EURO was particularly impressive. 15 projects from the “Hamburg, Your EURO” ideas competition focused on diversity and tolerance. This included the homeless football tournament “Homeless EURO 2024” and a queer day of action, which were intended to close gaps in society and bring people together. The area was also designed to be barrier-free: with a platform for 54 wheelchairs and a tactile area plan, every guest could enjoy the atmosphere.

Useful offers and environmental awareness

Visitors were able to actively participate through various participatory modules, such as a 5×5 soccer field. Free amenities such as drinking water and sunscreen were also provided to ensure everyone's well-being. An awareness concept ensured a safe and welcoming environment. Around 86 percent of guests traveled in an environmentally friendly manner, be it by public transport, by bike or on foot. This environmentally friendly journey was supported by a sophisticated reusable and waste management system that massively reduced the amount of waste. Thanks to these measures, over 60,000 single-use PET bottles were saved and only 76 grams of waste was generated per person.

Another notable point is that the entire fan zone was powered by certified green electricity and more than half of the food offered was vegetarian or vegan. “Green Volunteers” provided guests with advice on the topic of sustainability.

Future outlook for major sustainable events

The positive experiences of EURO 2024 should not be forgotten. Hamburg plans to use these findings for future major sporting events, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036, 2040 or 2044. The concept relies heavily on sustainability and uses existing sports facilities. Over 80 percent of the necessary sports facilities already exist and 82 percent of the locations are within a radius of seven kilometers. It is also noteworthy that 96 percent of the sports facilities can be reached from a public transport stop in less than 15 minutes on foot.

Similar to Hamburg, where the event serves as an example of an environmentally conscious orientation, there are also efforts in Munich to make the Olympic bid sustainable. While the costs for the applications used to be between 30 and 40 million euros, they have now been reduced to 5 to 10 million euros, which is due to a revised concept. The support from the federal government and the Free State of Bavaria shows that Germany has recognized the importance of sustainable sporting events and is prepared to take appropriate steps. You can find out more about this on the [Munich Application] website (https://www.olympiabewerbung-muenchen.com/).

Overall, EURO 2024 in Hamburg shows that major events not only bring in revenue and sporting fame, but also offer an opportunity to promote socially relevant issues and leave a positive footprint. The concept of sustainable event design could set a precedent and serve as a model for future sporting events, not only in Germany but beyond.