November 2025 at ISG: responsibility, ESG and new standards in sport
November at ISG was a month in which the word “responsibility” translated directly into action. Two pillars were at the centre of attention:
• the conference “CSR and ESG in Sport” at the Cracovia Stadium,
• the publication of the PKO BP Ekstraklasa CSR Report 2024/2025.
But there was much more happening around them: we discussed green cities, women’s leadership in sport, ESG standards at major events, as well as sports law, politics and social protection of athletes. It was a month that clearly showed how governance, ESG and inclusion are no longer slogans – they are becoming a system.
“CSR and ESG in Sport” Conference – when responsibility meets on the pitch
On 21 November, the Cracovia Stadium turned into a hub of discussions on responsible sport. Together with KS Cracovia SA, we organised the CSR and ESG in Sport Conference, which brought together representatives of the PKO BP Ekstraklasa and football clubs, academics (including from AGH and the University of Warsaw), experts from the Responsible Business Forum, and members of industry organisations and NGOs.
What resonated most strongly?
• that sport is no longer an “add-on” to ESG, but a real partner in climate, social and governance policy,
• that football clubs increasingly think in terms of responsibility strategies rather than one-off PR projects,
• that the biggest challenges remain environmental issues and financial stability, but there is growing awareness that without these pillars long-term development is impossible.
During two discussion panels we covered:
• long-term approaches to CSR in football,
• the potential of clubs as social institutions,
• the sport–environment relationship (mobility, infrastructure, waste),
• challenges in building system-level ESG programmes.
This was a conversation in which—alongside numbers and indicators—words like trust, transparency and responsibility towards communities carried significant weight.
Sport Students’ MeetUp 2025
Right after the expert section, the third edition of Sport Students’ MeetUp took place – the largest event in Poland for students interested in careers in sport. Thanks to Cracovia’s support:
• participants visited the Cracovia Training Center,
• saw “behind the scenes” of how a professional club operates,
• finished the day with an integration match and medal ceremony.
For ISG this is more than just an “accompanying event”. It reflects our belief that without well-prepared, aware young professionals, there can be no serious governance or ESG that outlives its momentary trend.
Ekstraklasa CSR Report 2024/2025 – responsibility records and new requirements
The second major highlight of November was the premiere of the report “Analysis of the Responsibility of PKO BP Ekstraklasa Clubs for the 2024/2025 Season” – the eighth edition of this comprehensive study of club responsibility.
What do the data show?
• 39% – league-wide average, the highest in the history of the study.
• Significant increases in two areas: society 49% (up from 36%), governance 45% (up from 33%).
• Environment 23% – stable, but clearly lagging behind the other areas.
These numbers reflect real changes:
• widespread adoption of child protection policies and responsible safety officers,
• growing publication of regulations, reports and ownership structure information,
• development of educational, health-promotion and grassroots sport programmes,
• the first serious steps towards gender balance and equal opportunities in clubs.
A new dimension: financial responsibility
For the first time, the report also evaluates sustainable financial management of clubs – using four key indicators related to liquidity, operating cash flow and financial balance.
Key findings:
• Widzew Łódź was the only club to meet all four indicators.
• Five clubs met none of them.
• The most problematic indicator was financial balance – in many clubs expenses still significantly exceed revenues.
• Only five clubs generated positive operating cash flow in at least two of the last three seasons.
This is an important signal: without financial stability, long-term CSR, youth training or infrastructure development are impossible.
Leaders and trends
• For the third year in a row, Widzew Łódź topped the ranking – combining strong social, environmental and organisational results with financial maturity.
• Cracovia and Lechia Gdańsk also ranked high – with robust child protection systems, professionalised processes and growing emphasis on equality and education.
• Noticeable progress was recorded in Lech Poznań, Piast Gliwice and Puszcza Niepołomice.
Prepared with the support of NIW PROO and in cooperation between ISG, Sportimpakt and the UW Faculty of Management, the report is becoming a benchmark of responsible club management in Poland – a tool for clubs, the league, sponsors, municipalities and fans.
Sport, city and climate: Urban Sport Ecosystem in practice
In November we continued exploring sustainable “sports cities”, taking inspiration from the Sports for Nature: Urban Playbook (IUCN, IOC, UNEP).
We presented examples such as:
• Wimbledon – where traditional tennis coexists with green roofs, wildflower meadows and climate education,
• VfL Wolfsburg – planting forests, managing water and implementing a biodiversity plan,
• SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles – with a rainwater retention system and a park replacing car parks,
• Hoiana Shores and Mullingar Shamrocks – where sport is combined with habitat protection, ecological education and local community integration.
The key idea: Urban Sport Ecosystem – a city where sport permeates public health policy, spatial planning, ecology and social inclusion. A direction that should increasingly inspire Polish local governments as well.
ESG at major events: Women’s EURO 2025
We also discussed the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 ESG Report, published 100 days after the tournament’s final.
Key numbers:
• 86% of fan journeys to matches made sustainably (public transport + active modes),
• −13% carbon footprint thanks to 34 reduction measures,
• 0% waste to landfill, 70% of branding materials recycled or upcycled,
• clear standards for accessibility, human rights and safety.
The tournament shows that sustainability can be an integral part of a sports project – with clear indicators, audits and transparent reporting.
Science, law and politics – sport in a wider context
November also saw our support for initiatives linking sport with science, law and public policy:
• “Law Sport Finance 2025” Conference (UW) – debates on sports law, ethics, compliance and management.
• “Party in Sport – Sport in Party” Conference (Civitas University) – under ISG patronage, analysing links between sport and politics in Poland.
• Announcement of the final “Work, Move & Perf” and “Move At Work” conferences in Brussels – focused on physical activity in the workplace and building the Move At Work Supporters’ Community.
Social protection of athletes – an unresolved issue
In our November communications we also revisited findings from the SOPROS workshops on the social protection of elite athletes in Poland:
• unclear status of the scholarship-athlete,
• lack of a “safe” transition period between junior and senior levels,
• major role of the Central Military Sports Team alongside an absence of equivalent solutions elsewhere,
• problems with athlete representation in decision-making processes,
• discrepancies in benefits (e.g. maternity) between central and local systems.
This is a reminder that fair sport also means fair working and living conditions for athletes – and that this area still requires deep reforms.
Monthly summary
November 2025 at ISG showed that responsible sport means:
• conferences linking ESG, CSR and education of young leaders – like the event in Kraków,
• reports that not only assess but set the direction for change – like the Ekstraklasa CSR 2024/2025 report,
• cities that treat sport as part of their health and climate ecosystem,
• women’s sport becoming a full and equal part of the system,
• tournaments reporting their environmental and social impacts as carefully as their sporting results,
• scientific conferences, law and public policy taking the role of sport seriously,
• and an honest debate on social protection for athletes.
At ISG we remain guided by one belief: the sport of tomorrow is a sport that can be accountable – financially, socially, environmentally and ethically.
