AISTS SportEco project

AISTS SportEco is a web based management tool designed for international sports federations. With the tool, federations can assess the environmental impact of their activities and find out how they can become more environmentally friendly.

During the Summer 2007, AISTS SportEco was tested out at the UIAA with a pilot study of youth events. AISTS Masters of Advanced Studies student Meike Behrensen from Germany created questions relevant to the UIAA and entered them into the programme. Organisers of UIAA youth camps and other Youth Commission events then rated themselves on different areas such as transportation, clean up of site and impact on flora and fauna. Most of the answers were given by ticking a box, but it was also possible to add comments and explanations.

Meike and the UIAA can now analyse the data and measure and compare the environmental impact of different camps. The next step can be for the Youth Commission to set minimum environmental standards for our youth camps. These standards could then be implemented into the handbook for camp organisers.

In the future the tool might be used to assess National Federations, events – such as International UIAA Competitions – and the holders of the UIAA environmental label. The questions can be changed for each survey. The results for each question and each area are immediately displayed in a colour coded system. Green means environmentally friendly, orange means that improvement is needed and red means that little has been done to protect the environment in this area. In this way both the event organisers and the UIAA can get a clear vision of their strengths and weaknesses.

You can read Meike's summary of her project here or read the full text here

The AISTS SportEco tool has been developed by the International Academy of Sports Science and Technology (AISTS) using the EcoEntreprise programme for businesses from EcoParc, a Swiss not-for-profit organisation. The AISTS SportEco project will be presented to the IOC by the AISTS as part of a programme to support increased environmental awareness in sports.

The AISTS was founded in 2000 by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the University of Geneva, the University of Lausanne, the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), the Swiss Graduate School of Public Administration (IDHEAP) and IMD Business School among others, and is a centre of education, research and technology transfer in sport. Several AISTS students have done work placements and projects for the UIAA.