World Para Snow Sports Championships achieve Green Event status

The first World Para Snow Sports Championship set to take place in Lillehammer in January 2022 became the largest sport event to achieve the status of 'Green Event' through Eco-Lighthouse certification in Norway.

To ensure an environmentally friendly event, 1,300 accredited people will be made aware pf the steps to be taken through an online course, focusing on the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. 

In this way, all athletes, volunteers, and the public can actively contribute to a greener event at Lillehammer 2021.

“With 1,300 accredited people from over 30 nations in four different arenas, the World Championships will have a significant impact on the environment. Therefore, we  emphasise more sustainable solutions by making everyone involved aware of active action,” said Lillehammer2021 Project Manager Ola Keul.

Sustainable solutions such as transport on biogas in collaboration with waste management company GLØR and Unibuss, plastic-smart solutions for waste and recycling in collaboration with WWF, GLØR and NIF, joint purchasing routines for environmental awareness with everyone involved are already in place. 

Keul added: “We have already planned for one electric and one hydrogen snow groomer In Birkebeiner Stadium and electric trucks that transports equipment.”

“The World Championships’ scope and complexity means that we depend on cooperation to achieve the common goal that is for everyone to take independent environmental responsibility during the event, and that what we learn also enables us to continue the environmental efforts even after Lillehammer 2021.”

Recognised by the EU

The Eco-Lighthouse certification was announced on Wednesday (14 April). Eco-Lighthouse is the first national scheme in Europe to be recognised by the European Union. 

The certification is valid for one year and applies to the different areas involved in the event. Within the industry criteria ‘Green Event’», the organiser is obliged to meet criteria in the areas of working environment, waste management, energy use, CO2 emission, procurement and transport.

“As a ‘Green Event’, we commit to an environmental management system with everyone involved,” said Lillehammer 2021 Environmental and Sustainability Manager, Marita Hakestad Andresen.

“Eco-Lighthouse’s criteria focuses on the working environment, waste management, energy use, C02 emissions, procurement and transport. Together with the local organisers Hafjell-Kvitfjell Alpin AS and Lillehammer Olympiapark AS, and GLØR, there has been a huge effort the last six months to achieve the requirement from the Eco-Lighthouse,” Andresen added.

Lillehammer 2021 will be the first that Para Alpine Skiing, Para Nordic Skiing and Para Snowboard World Championships are hosted at the same time in the same city.

The competition was initially scheduled to scheduled to February 2021 but was postponed 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new dates are from 8 to 23 January next year. 

More information about the Eco-Lighthouse certification can be found here.