Football festival of the future?: UEFA wants unisex toilets and vegan food at EM 2024

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The European Championship 2024 must be a football festival with an exemplary character. The organizers have set themselves ambitious goals and want to lead by example with vegan food and unisex toilets.

Expert Thomas Fischer of the German Environmental Service (DUH) praises the plans at the SID. Thanks to good transport and sports infrastructure, a reusable bid for drinks and food and renewable energy, the conditions for the major event in Germany are “very good”.

The EM could become “the most environmentally friendly in history to date,” Fischer said. This coincides with the idea of ​​UEFA, which published a strategy document with numerous measures on how next year’s final round (June 14 to July 14) will be the “most sustainable” European Championship ever. In it, a total of 83 key performance indicators were defined – for example to reduce CO₂ pollution or to combat discrimination.

Sustainability concept of the EM 2024

Ticket holders should be able to use public transport for free on the day of the match and receive a discount on longer distances on public transport. Parking spaces at the locations will be reduced accordingly. The electricity in the stadiums comes from renewable energy sources and the use of floodlights is minimized as much as possible.

Vegetarian and vegan options are also available in the catering. Unavoidable emissions are offset by investments in a climate fund. Unisex toilets should be a sign against discrimination. Access to the games is made easier for people with disabilities.

Criticism of the Women’s and Men’s World Cup

Fischer is not so positive about the upcoming Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. “When it comes to climate change, nothing is more damaging than having many people travel thousands of miles by air.” After all, football has a permanent place in Australia, so the infrastructure can be used. “That’s a big difference with Qatar,” Fischer said last year in relation to the men’s World Cup.

A sustainable large event should mainly offer short distances and an existing infrastructure: “That can also be cross-border.” (AFP/dti)

Source : Blick