Hamburg celebrates sustainable EURO 2024: 600,000 fans in the fan zone!

Hamburg celebrates sustainable EURO 2024: 600,000 fans in the fan zone!

Over 600,000 people visited the fan zone with public viewing on the Heiligengeistfeld during the UEFA EURO 2024 in Hamburg. These impressive numbers not only show the great interest in this sporting event, but also the successful implementation of sustainability standards, diversity and inclusion, such as Hamburg.de reported. The Senator for the Environment, Climate, Energy and Agriculture, Katharina Fegebank, also focused on the sustainable design of major sporting events.

The Fan Zone received the Green Events seal in the highest “Premium” category. This underlines the commitment to environmental and climate protection. 86 percent of visitors were able to travel in an environmentally friendly way, be it by public transport, by bike or on foot. A well-thought-out reusable and waste management system ensured that only 76 grams of waste was generated per person and more than 60,000 single-use PET bottles were saved.

Diversity and Inclusion

The event also set an example for diversity and tolerance. 15 winning projects from the “Hamburg, Your EURO” ideas competition were launched, including the homeless football tournament “Homeless EURO 2024” and a queer day of action. Accessibility was a top priority: a platform for 54 wheelchairs and a tactile area plan enabled all visitors to take part in the celebrations.

Particular emphasis was also placed on the active participation of the guests. With a 5×5 soccer field there was the opportunity to become active yourself. In conjunction with an awareness concept, a safe and welcoming environment was created for everyone. Green Volunteers were available to answer visitors' questions about sustainability and raise awareness of environmentally friendly practices.

Future prospects in sport

The positive experiences from EURO 2024 should help to further improve future major events. Hamburg plans to apply the findings and strategies for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036, 2040 or 2044. The focus is on existing sports facilities, as over 80 percent already exist and 96 percent of the sports facilities can be reached from a public transport stop in under 15 minutes on foot.

But professional sport also faces challenges, as can be seen from the area of ​​responsibility in the sports industry. The construction of sports facilities for major events often brings with it environmental and human rights concerns. Loud CSR in Germany For example, massive human rights violations in the context of such large-scale projects are repeatedly discussed.

In this discussion it becomes clear that not only exciting and entertaining events are desired, but also an awareness of the increasing CO₂ emissions and plastic waste in sport must be developed. At a global level, over 250 sports organizations have already signed the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework to promote sustainable practices in sport.

The UEFA EURO 2024 in Hamburg could therefore serve as a model for future major sporting events and makes it clear how important it is to implement sustainable principles in sport. Especially at a time when climate change and environmental protection are increasingly pressing issues. Let's work together to ensure that sport not only brings joy but also a sense of responsibility!