For the last 3 years the TACKLE project supported by the EU’s LIFE programme has been observing and exploring opportunities for improving the environmental performance of football games across Europe. With the Italian, Romanian and Swedish Football Association who were granting access to stadiums and football games – both those of respective national teams and different football clubs, the project’s technical partners Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies and ACR+ were able to conduct comprehensive analyses of organisational structures, competences, governance and operational practices, as well as stadium goers’ behaviours and identify potentials for decreasing the environmental impact of football games.
As an associate partner, the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) adhered to the project as a pilot case. This cooperation resulted in an extensive collaboration between ACR+, RBFA and the City of Brussels including a whole variety of regional and national stakeholders, such as FostPlus, Brussels Environment, AB InBev, Coca-Cola, Bevers & Bevers and others. Overall, certain aspects of football games – both governance and operations were identified and improved.
As the TACKLE project ends in March 2022, the City of Brussels, RBFA and ACR+ invites all interested parties to attend the event that would mark the end of the TACKLE activities at the Roi Baudouin stadium. The event will not only present its main observations, conclusions and suggestions but also look into the current environmental practices elsewhere in Belgium with concrete examples of good practices across the Belgian professional football with Royale Union Saint Gilloise, KAA Gent, OH Leuven and Standard de Liège presenting theirs. Whether talking about environmental strategies, waste management, mobility or infrastructure, this event has as an objective to provoke discussions, motivate other clubs to replicate existing solutions or come up with their own ones and kick start a new approach to organising football games. Thanks to other speakers and panellists, the event also wants to offer tools and support various stakeholders can offer to football clubs.
The event will take place on 7 March 2022 at Roi Baudouin stadium’s “Halle d’Honneur”, at 13h. It will be opened by Mr Benoit Hellings, the City of Brussels’ vice-mayor for environment and sport, UEFA representatives and Mr Hedeli Sassi of the RBFA.
COVID limitations for the event (subject to modifications):
-Access to the event only allowed by the posession of the Covid Safe Ticket
-Wearing a face mask is mandatory throughout the event, except when presenting or speaking
-The event will be seated with catering and coffee/tea breaks adjusted to current COVID rules
Please register for the event using this link.
AGENDA
Opening speeches:
13:00 | Benoit Hellings, Vice-Mayor for Environment and Sports, City of Brussels
13:10 | EU and Governmental Affairs Manager, UEFA (TBC)
13:20 | Hedeli Sassi, RBFA
Local, national and European cooperation as an enabler for improving environmental performances
13:35 | Barriers and enablers for improved environmental management in football; Ernest Kovacs, Project Manager, ACR+
13:50 | New waste collection and management at Roi Baudouin stadium as a result of regional cooperation; Helene Vossen, Bruxelles Environnement/Brussel Leefmilieu, Aurore Van Bogaert, FostPlus, Lysiane Dernelle, Bruxelles-Proprete/Net-Brussel
14:05 | Monitoring and benchmarking of environmental footprint in sports events; Marvin Olawaiye, ACFF
COFFEE BREAK
Belgian case studies
14:25 | Royale Union Saint Gilloise’s environmental strategy; Raphaele Moeremans and Alex Muzio, RUSG
14:40 | Waste management campaign and awareness raising among supporters; Isabelle Henry, Standard de Liège
14:55 | Environmentally friendly infrastructure; Dirk Piens, KAA Gent
15:10 | Mobility plan; OH Leuven
15:30 Panel discussion: enabling actions and tools for improving the environmental performance of football games
Moderator: Ernest Kovacs
Panelists:
• Lore Claes, OVAM; Current and upcoming regulations for football games in Flanders and conclusions of the study on reusable cups
• Dominique Siplet, Fost Plus; Communication and logistical support for separate waste collection in Belgian stadiums
• Marcel Van Meesche, 21 Solutions; Belgian and European certifications and labels for validating good environmental performances in football
• Ophélie Raoult, BE WAPP; Support for Walloon amateur clubs’ stadiums in transitioning towards better environmental performances
• Luc Vandeputte, SportCircular; Programme targeting clubs in the Brussels Capital region and supporting them in their transition towards circular economy practices
16:45 Closing words by Mr Benoit Hellings, the City of Brussels’ vice-mayor for sports and environment
17:00 Cocktail reception (TBC)
Klik hier voor het Nederlandse programma
Trouvez l’invitation et la programme en fracaise ici
Click here for the full program and information in English.
As an associate partner, the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) adhered to the project as a pilot case. This cooperation resulted in an extensive collaboration between ACR+, RBFA and the City of Brussels including a whole variety of regional and national stakeholders, such as FostPlus, Brussels Environment, AB InBev, Coca-Cola, Bevers & Bevers and others. Overall, certain aspects of football games – both governance and operations were identified and improved.
As the TACKLE project ends in March 2022, the City of Brussels, RBFA and ACR+ invites all interested parties to attend the event that would mark the end of the TACKLE activities at the Roi Baudouin stadium. The event will not only present its main observations, conclusions and suggestions but also look into the current environmental practices elsewhere in Belgium with concrete examples of good practices across the Belgian professional football with Royale Union Saint Gilloise, KAA Gent, OH Leuven and Standard de Liège presenting theirs. Whether talking about environmental strategies, waste management, mobility or infrastructure, this event has as an objective to provoke discussions, motivate other clubs to replicate existing solutions or come up with their own ones and kick start a new approach to organising football games. Thanks to other speakers and panellists, the event also wants to offer tools and support various stakeholders can offer to football clubs.
The event will take place on 7 March 2022 at Roi Baudouin stadium’s “Halle d’Honneur”, at 13h. It will be opened by Mr Benoit Hellings, the City of Brussels’ vice-mayor for environment and sport, UEFA representatives and Mr Hedeli Sassi of the RBFA.
COVID limitations for the event (subject to modifications):
-Access to the event only allowed by the posession of the Covid Safe Ticket
-Wearing a face mask is mandatory throughout the event, except when presenting or speaking
-The event will be seated with catering and coffee/tea breaks adjusted to current COVID rules
Please register for the event using this link.
AGENDA
Opening speeches:
13:00 | Benoit Hellings, Vice-Mayor for Environment and Sports, City of Brussels
13:10 | EU and Governmental Affairs Manager, UEFA (TBC)
13:20 | Hedeli Sassi, RBFA
Local, national and European cooperation as an enabler for improving environmental performances
13:35 | Barriers and enablers for improved environmental management in football; Ernest Kovacs, Project Manager, ACR+
13:50 | New waste collection and management at Roi Baudouin stadium as a result of regional cooperation; Helene Vossen, Bruxelles Environnement/Brussel Leefmilieu, Aurore Van Bogaert, FostPlus, Lysiane Dernelle, Bruxelles-Proprete/Net-Brussel
14:05 | Monitoring and benchmarking of environmental footprint in sports events; Marvin Olawaiye, ACFF
COFFEE BREAK
Belgian case studies
14:25 | Royale Union Saint Gilloise’s environmental strategy; Raphaele Moeremans and Alex Muzio, RUSG
14:40 | Waste management campaign and awareness raising among supporters; Isabelle Henry, Standard de Liège
14:55 | Environmentally friendly infrastructure; Dirk Piens, KAA Gent
15:10 | Mobility plan; OH Leuven
15:30 Panel discussion: enabling actions and tools for improving the environmental performance of football games
Moderator: Ernest Kovacs
Panelists:
• Lore Claes, OVAM; Current and upcoming regulations for football games in Flanders and conclusions of the study on reusable cups
• Dominique Siplet, Fost Plus; Communication and logistical support for separate waste collection in Belgian stadiums
• Marcel Van Meesche, 21 Solutions; Belgian and European certifications and labels for validating good environmental performances in football
• Ophélie Raoult, BE WAPP; Support for Walloon amateur clubs’ stadiums in transitioning towards better environmental performances
• Luc Vandeputte, SportCircular; Programme targeting clubs in the Brussels Capital region and supporting them in their transition towards circular economy practices
16:45 Closing words by Mr Benoit Hellings, the City of Brussels’ vice-mayor for sports and environment
17:00 Cocktail reception (TBC)
Klik hier voor het Nederlandse programma
Trouvez l’invitation et la programme en fracaise ici
Click here for the full program and information in English.
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