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In the News

Special Olympics Launches Sport Sustainability Framework

A pioneering new Sports Sustainability Framework (SSF) was launched in November as a key outcome of the Erasmus+ funded Special Olympics Environmental Sustainability Impact project. 
A group of swimmers wearing yellow swim caps and goggles in action in the open water.
The Special Olympics Sports Sustainability Framework (SSF) was launched in November 2024.

The new environmental sustainability framework, now available to evaluate and outline what can be done to reduce the environmental impact of Special Olympics events, was the final outcome of the two-year project led by Special Olympics Europe Eurasia Foundation (SOEEF) which was wrapped up in November 2024,The framework document (SSF), which was tested by the project consortium throughout the project, seeks to provide best-practice support and recommendations for the wider Special Olympics network. Special Olympics Belgium and Special Olympics Italy, the other partners in the project, tested the initiatives contained in a draft version of the SSF document and further tested these initiatives throughout the project. This testing helped to understand what sustainability initiatives are appropriate for the Special Olympics network and fed into the final SSF document.

Expert Support from Think Beyond

Through the Erasmus+ grant funding SOEEF contracted Think Beyond—a social impact and sustainability consultancy—to support the development of the SSF document and to support the pilot testing with Special Olympics in Belgium and Italy. Think Beyond’s experience in the area of sustainability is extensive and the organisation’s expertise has been engaged by the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2025 and by World Athletics to develop their sustainability planning. Think Beyond supported the project consortium to develop the extensive SSF document that covered the specific needs of the consortium and the entire Special Olympics global network. Also, with the support of Think Beyond, templates have been created that can be used to help any sports organisation create sustainability plans for their events.

A group of people smile with their hands in the air stand and sit in a two rows in a field behind a Special Olympics flag with the EU flag.
Special Olympics Environmental Sustainability Impact project team at a workshop in Dublin in June 2024.

Bringing Partners on Board

The project had an immediate impact in Special Olympics Italy and Special Olympics Belgium. Both organisations are now strongly committed to activate the key practices contained in the SSF document within their operations and event planning. This means that large events such as their National Games, which feature thousands of Special Olympics athletes, Unified partners, volunteers and spectators and smaller scale events will be more sustainable with reduced carbon footprints. Special Olympics events are often hosted by small to medium sized Local Organising Committee’s (LOCs) with various sponsors and logistical partners which can make sustainable initiatives complicated to implement. Partners can include local authorities that help to organise National Games, as is the case for Special Olympics Belgium. One of the key learnings from the project was the importance of educating partners around sustainability. Frank De Vos, Project Coordinator for Special Olympics Belgium, says, “If we can convince the town to be sustainable then we can move forward. Fortunately, this is the direction that most towns are moving in. They want to prove that they are sustainable and, in that case, it can really facilitate the partnership if we can say from the first moment that we also have sustainability objectives.”

For Giorgio Scarnecchia, Project Manager with Special Olympics Italy, the key is also to align and educate partners. He says, “It’s important to set common standards for everyone and find best practices that can be adopted by everyone at every event. It’s crucial to get stakeholders and sponsors involved and finally to create a legacy.”

A woman holding a rugby ball runs along a grass field as other players chase her.
The Special Olympics Sports Sustainability Framework (SSF) was launched in November 2024.

Special Olympics Networks and Beyond

SOEEF disseminated the final results and best practices across the Special Olympics network in the Europe Eurasia region as well as to international and national sports federations e.g. UCI (cycling), European Aquatics, European Hockey, Sport Ireland, through an online webinar in November 2024. One of the key legacies from this project is that the framework can be used by any sports club, organisation/national and international federation organising small to large scale events as the same principles apply. It is intended that the project will have a significant impact within the Special Olympics network globally. As David Evangelista President and Managing Director, Special Olympics Europe Eurasia noted: “We are most grateful for the support of the European Union in affording organizations like Special Olympics the opportunity to implement the Erasmus+ project, empowering all levels of the organization the chance to develop the tools necessary to ensure our development through sport platform is both sustainable and aligned with global best practices. We are fully committed to making the world a more inclusive place for individuals with intellectual disabilities, indeed for us all—for in the end, it is sustained inclusion that will serve as the strongest legacy of this project. That is something we all can celebrate—on and off the field of play.”

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.