CSS Attends Green Sports Alliance Summit

Representatives of the CSS and the UBC Athletics & Recreation department attended the recent kick-off 2011 Summit of the newly formed Green Sports Alliance held in Portland, OR August 1-3. The Summit brought together representatives from teams, venues, academia, NGOs and the private sector to share best environmental management practices in sport.

The CSS was pleased to attend this event as part of its mission to capture and transfer knowledge on how sport can create sustainable benefits locally, regionally, and internationally. UBC Athletics & Recreation, who work with the CSS on projects related to sustainability, hope to use this platform to create a dialogue with other university athletics departments on green initiatives.

The Green Sports Alliance was formed by teams representing six major sports leagues with a mission to reduce the environmental impact of professional sport. Founding members include the Vancouver Canucks (NHL), the Seattle Storm (WNBA), the Seattle Mariners (MLB), the Seattle Seahawks (NFL), the Portland Trail Blazers (NBA) and the Seattle Sounders FC (MLS). The Green Sports Alliance is also partnered with major environmental organizations such as the US Environmental Protection Agency, National Resources Defense Council.

With approximately 25 member teams as well as partner organizations such as AEG who own 50 sports arenas, the Green Sports Alliance has created a significant amount of momentum in under a year. Although ‘green’ efforts are still at a grassroots level for most of the industry, this initiative will likely represents a major leap forward for the growing field of sport and sustainability.

More information on the Green Sports Alliance is available at www.greensportsalliance.org

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