Български
C ZERO SPORT CLUBS
BSDA participated in Pioneering Sustainable Sport – A High-Level Event on Green Innovations in Sport
21.03.2025
On March 20-21, 2025, the Pioneering Sustainable Sport event gathered key stakeholders from across Europe to discuss and showcase innovative solutions for environmentally friendly practices in sport. Hosted at the National Sports Academy in Sofia, this high-level peer learning activity brought together government representatives, EU institutions, international organizations, researchers, and leading experts to explore the role of sport in achieving sustainability goals.
Organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Bulgaria, the event provided a unique platform to assess national policies, exchange best practices, and align sports development with the European Green Deal objectives. Discussions highlighted the importance of sustainability in major sporting events and the role of governments and sports organizations in leading the transition towards greener practices. Throughout the two-day program, participants explored a comprehensive roadmap for sustainable sport development, discussed the latest policy recommendations, and examined successful EU-funded green sport initiatives.
The event opened with addresses from Ivan Peshev, Minister of Youth and Sports of Bulgaria, and Reneta Koleva, Deputy Minister of Environment and Water, emphasizing the need for sustainability-driven sports policies. A keynote address from European Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva focused on driving innovation in sustainable sport. A high-level policy roundtable explored how local governments and sports organizations can integrate sustainability into major sporting events, with insights from representatives of CSKA Sofia FC, the Bulgarian Football Union, and the Ministry of Sport and Tourism of Poland.
BSDA’s Chairperson, Joanna Dochevska, presented the Carbon Neutral Sport Clubs initiative, an EU-funded project that promotes eco-friendly sports club management and climate-conscious practices. The initiative highlights innovative strategies for reducing the environmental footprint of grassroots sports organizations while encouraging clubs across Europe to adopt sustainable operations. By sharing practical insights and best practices, BSDA reinforced its commitment to advancing sustainability in the sports sector and fostering a greener future for sport sector.
The program also included practical workshops on implementing green interventions in sport and a roundtable discussion on the role of governments in creating a green playing field. Representatives from Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Finland, Germany, Italy, Malta, and Poland shared national strategies for promoting sustainability in sports infrastructure and event planning. A dedicated session on EU funding opportunities for sustainable sport featured insights from Luciano Di Fonzo, Acting Head of Unit at EACEA, and Géraldine Née, Project Adviser at the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency.
The event concluded with a visionary discussion on next steps for sustainable sports development, with closing remarks from Gabriela Ramos (UNESCO), MEP Tsvetelina Penkova, and Bulgaria’s Deputy Minister of Youth and Sport, Peter Mladenov. With a strong commitment to green transformation, the Pioneering Sustainable Sport event marked a significant step toward integrating environmental responsibility into sports policies and practices across Europe.
The event opened with addresses from Ivan Peshev, Minister of Youth and Sports of Bulgaria, and Reneta Koleva, Deputy Minister of Environment and Water, emphasizing the need for sustainability-driven sports policies. A keynote address from European Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva focused on driving innovation in sustainable sport. A high-level policy roundtable explored how local governments and sports organizations can integrate sustainability into major sporting events, with insights from representatives of CSKA Sofia FC, the Bulgarian Football Union, and the Ministry of Sport and Tourism of Poland.
BSDA’s Chairperson, Joanna Dochevska, presented the Carbon Neutral Sport Clubs initiative, an EU-funded project that promotes eco-friendly sports club management and climate-conscious practices. The initiative highlights innovative strategies for reducing the environmental footprint of grassroots sports organizations while encouraging clubs across Europe to adopt sustainable operations. By sharing practical insights and best practices, BSDA reinforced its commitment to advancing sustainability in the sports sector and fostering a greener future for sport sector.
The program also included practical workshops on implementing green interventions in sport and a roundtable discussion on the role of governments in creating a green playing field. Representatives from Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Finland, Germany, Italy, Malta, and Poland shared national strategies for promoting sustainability in sports infrastructure and event planning. A dedicated session on EU funding opportunities for sustainable sport featured insights from Luciano Di Fonzo, Acting Head of Unit at EACEA, and Géraldine Née, Project Adviser at the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency.
The event concluded with a visionary discussion on next steps for sustainable sports development, with closing remarks from Gabriela Ramos (UNESCO), MEP Tsvetelina Penkova, and Bulgaria’s Deputy Minister of Youth and Sport, Peter Mladenov. With a strong commitment to green transformation, the Pioneering Sustainable Sport event marked a significant step toward integrating environmental responsibility into sports policies and practices across Europe.
