The CSR in Sport Academy Has Come to an End

After nine weeks of online meetings, the first edition of the CSR in Sport Academy has come to an end. The educational programme was dedicated to responsible sport management and brought together experts representing sports clubs, foundations, non-governmental organisations, and institutions connected with sport.

The Academy was organised by the Institute for Sport Governance with funding from the National Freedom Institute – Centre for Civil Society Development under the PROO Civil Society Organisations Development Programme.

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Responsibility in Sport from Different Perspectives

The aim of the Academy was to demonstrate that the social responsibility of sports organisations is not a standalone project or a fashionable slogan, but rather a way of managing an organisation and shaping its impact on the surrounding environment.

Throughout the nine webinars, participants explored various aspects of CSR and ESG in sport – from social initiatives and community engagement, through governance and responsible financial management, to organising sporting events in line with sustainability standards.

Each session was based on the practical experience of the speakers and real-life examples of initiatives implemented by sports organisations.

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From Theory to Practice

The Academy opened with Marcin Tarociński from Widzew Łódź, who discussed how to build social initiatives within a sports club and how to develop projects that respond to the real needs of the local community.

The following session, led by Magdalena Sprawka, focused on designing sporting events as a tool for creating social impact and delivering long-term value for participants and the wider community.

Paweł Pietrzyk presented the development of the Radomiak Futbol Plus project, demonstrating how a sports club can create opportunities for physical activity and social inclusion for people with disabilities.

The impact of ESG-related regulations on sports organisations was explored by Miłosz Marchlewicz, who highlighted the growing importance of transparency, reporting, and responsible management.

Jarosław Żubka introduced participants to the process of building a responsibility strategy within a sports organisation and emphasised the role of long-term planning.

Agata Chlastawa from Miedź Legnica showed that governance does not have to mean complicated procedures. Her webinar demonstrated how transparency, well-organised documentation, and easy access to information can significantly improve the functioning of a sports organisation.

Maja Gasik from the Legia Foundation presented examples of social initiatives implemented through the potential of one of Poland’s largest sports clubs. The webinar highlighted how sport can support education, social inclusion, and charitable activities.

Responsible financial management was the focus of the session led by Jakub Szlendak, who explained why sporting decisions are almost always financial decisions as well, and how sports organisations can build long-term stability.

The series concluded with Marek Plawgo, who shared experiences from implementing the Athletics for a Better World standard during the organisation of the Diamond League Memorial Kamila Skolimowska meeting.

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A Common Theme: Responsible Management

Although each webinar focused on a different aspect of sport, they all shared one key message: responsibility is not an addition to the activities of a sports organisation.

It is a way of making decisions, building relationships with stakeholders, managing resources, and planning organisational development.

Throughout the Academy, speakers repeatedly emphasised that CSR and ESG activities do not always require large budgets or complex structures. They often begin with small steps, a better understanding of stakeholders’ needs, more organised processes, or more conscious planning.

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Knowledge That Leads to Action

One of the main objectives of the Academy was to provide participants with practical tools and solutions that could be implemented in their own organisations.

As a result, the webinars offered not only inspiring examples but also concrete recommendations on:

• planning social initiatives,
• developing organisational strategies,
• engaging partners and sponsors,
• financial management,
• communication and transparency,
• organising events in line with ESG principles,
• cooperating with local communities.

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Thank You for Participating

The first edition of the CSR in Sport Academy brought together representatives of sports clubs, sports federations, non-governmental organisations, academia, and individuals interested in responsible sport management.

We would like to thank all participants for their active engagement, thoughtful questions, and willingness to share their experiences throughout the programme.

We hope that the knowledge gained during the Academy will translate into tangible actions within sports organisations and contribute to the further development of responsible sport in Poland.

This may be the end of the first edition of the CSR in Sport Academy, but it is certainly not the end of the conversation about responsibility, social impact, and good governance in sport.

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