BRITAIN’S premier paratriathlon event has been awarded Gold in World Triathlon’s Sustainability Certification, the first standalone World Triathlon Para Series race to achieve this standard.
Having achieved Silver in 2022 and 2023, British Triathlon and event partners Welsh Government, Swansea City Council, Welsh Triathlon and UK Sport, have this year gone one better to achieve the highest level of certification.
Environmental sustainability has been a central pillar of the event since its first edition in 2022, with the organising team keeping it at the front of decision making in all areas of the event planning and operations.
World Triathlon’s Sustainability Certification assesses the work that organising committees do to promote sustainable practices in major events, and also how organisers use their events to educate and encourage sustainability amongst stakeholders.
This year has seen that maintained and increased in line with British Triathlon’s Endurance 2040+ sustainability strategy, resulting in the Gold certification level.
The iconic blue carpet finish will be given a green touch, with the carpet also set to be recycled after the event to continue its life beyond World Triathlon Para Series Swansea.
Spectators and attendees at the event will notice waste recycling requirements in line with recently introduced Welsh Government guidelines, with this being one of the ways spectators can play their part. There will also be water refill points, with everyone coming to the event encouraged to bring their own water bottle.
Other initiatives introduced for this event include:
· local catering suppliers used to limit food carbon mileage
· volunteer gifts and t-shirts made from more sustainable materials including organic cotton or recycled plastic bottles
· accommodation for event crew and athletes within walking or cycling distance of the event venue to reduce vehicle emissions.
British Triathlon launched Endurance 2040+ in October 2023 setting out its ambitions to protect and promote the natural environment. As a sport that relies on and benefits from healthy, nature-rich environments, triathlon events have a part to play in a sustainable future for the sport.
Climate Action and Net Zero is one of the strategy’s three pillars, with to “set a world-leading standard of sustainable triathlon events” one of the objectives. In this, British Triathlon aims to not only set a standard for international major events, but also support event organisers across the country in delivering sustainable events for their participants.
Ruth Daniels, British Triathlon CEO, said of the award: “I’m really proud that we’ve been awarded Gold sustainability certification for World Triathlon Para Series Swansea and that all the hard work that our team and partners has been recognised as having a real impact on the environment.
“As an organisation and sport, the natural world is central to our future way of doing things and it’s important to us to be leading by example for our international and domestic community.
“Through Eve Joseph, British Triathlon’s Head of Social Impact, and our Endurance 2040+ sustainability strategy, we are confident we can safeguard participation for future generations and promote nature-rich landscapes as the venues in which we enjoy swim, bike, run.”
Marisol Casado, World Triathlon President and IOC member, commented: “My congratulations to the entire team behind the World Triathlon Para Series Swansea for achieving Gold Certification in recognition of the sustainability efforts that have gone into hosting this weekend’s event.
“It is so vital to our future that World Triathlon and all our partners appreciate the huge responsibility we have to the health of the planet and to reducing our events’ impact upon it.
“The gold standard is far from easy to attain, and every target that has been hit, from the most obvious provisions to the seemingly smallest requirement, holds equal importance. Thank you and wishing you all a great event in Swansea.”
Find out more about British Triathlon’s sustainability commitments and strategy here: https://www.britishtriathlon.org/about-us/sustainability.
