ESG Starts with Event Organisation. Summary of the Webinar with Marek Plawgo

The ninth and final webinar of the CSR in Sport Academy is now behind us. During the session, participants had the opportunity to learn about practical experiences related to implementing ESG standards in the organisation of one of the largest sporting events in Poland – the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial Diamond League.

The guest speaker was Marek Plawgo, Vice President of the Polish Athletic Association, President of the Lower Silesian Athletic Association, and Communications Director of the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial Diamond League, where he is also responsible for the event’s sustainability initiatives.

The webinar focused primarily on the practical implementation of the Athletics for a Better World (ABW) standard, developed by World Athletics, as well as on the challenges that arise when organising major sporting events in line with ESG principles.

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ESG Is Becoming the Standard in Global Sport

One of the key topics discussed during the webinar was the Athletics for a Better World (ABW) standard, which has been mandatory for the most important events organised under the auspices of World Athletics since 2024.

As Marek Plawgo explained, the standard covers six areas related to responsible event management:

• leadership and governance,
• sustainable production and consumption,
• climate and CO₂ emissions,
• local environment and air quality,
• equality,
• accessibility and participant well-being.

Event organisers are assessed based on approximately 60 indicators, and the results determine the level of certification awarded to the event – from Recognised Event to Platinum status.

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From Reporting to Strategy

The speaker presented the process of implementing ESG practices at the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial. The first report was prepared in 2023 and served primarily as a summary of activities that had already been carried out. At that stage, there was no formal ESG strategy, and the report focused mainly on documenting initiatives related to environmental responsibility, accessibility, and social inclusion.

A breakthrough came in 2024 when the organisers began reporting in accordance with the ABW standard. ESG ceased to be merely a post-event reporting exercise and became an integral part of the planning process.

A dedicated ESG team was established, and sustainability considerations started to be incorporated already during the preparation phase of the event. In subsequent years, the system continued to evolve and involved an increasing number of people responsible for different organisational areas. As a result, the event progressed from Bronze status in 2024 to Gold status in 2025.

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Documentation Is as Important as Actions

One of the most valuable insights from the webinar was the importance of properly documenting activities. As Marek Plawgo emphasised, many initiatives implemented during the Memorial had already existed before, but there was a lack of appropriate procedures, data, and documentation confirming their implementation.

Documentation, certificates, reports, quantitative data, and confirmations from partners ultimately determine whether a given activity will be recognised in the event assessment process. In practice, this means that effective ESG management requires not only implementing actions but also creating an efficient system for collecting information and reporting outcomes.

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ESG Requires Cooperation Across the Entire Event Ecosystem

A significant part of the discussion was also devoted to cooperation with partners and subcontractors. The final ESG performance of an event depends not only on the organisers but also on venue owners, service providers, sponsors, logistics partners, and companies responsible for transportation and waste management.

The speaker pointed out that organisers often do not have full control over every process. In some cases, even well-executed initiatives may not receive appropriate recognition if partners fail to provide the required documentation or do not operate according to the standards expected by the governing federation.

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Efficiency or Sustainability?

One of the most interesting topics discussed during the webinar concerned the practical dilemmas associated with organising sporting events. Marek Plawgo noted that organisers frequently need to find a balance between environmental objectives and participant comfort.

Athlete transportation is a good example. From an environmental perspective, maximising the use of shared transportation would be the most efficient solution. However, from the athletes’ perspective, this could result in longer waiting times and reduced travel comfort.

Similar challenges arise when limiting printed materials, reducing plastic use, or designing participant zones.

The webinar demonstrated that ESG is not about simply implementing ready-made solutions. Instead, it often requires difficult decisions and balancing competing organisational priorities.

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ESG as a Development Tool

One of the key messages of the webinar was that ESG should not be viewed merely as an additional administrative requirement. As Marek Plawgo emphasised, the Athletics for a Better World assessment framework has become a practical management and planning tool for the organisers of the Memorial.

Thanks to clear evaluation criteria, organisations can more easily identify areas for improvement, monitor progress, and develop events in a more structured and strategic way.

The webinar showed that social and environmental responsibility is increasingly becoming an integral part of professional sports event management rather than simply an additional activity undertaken by organisers.

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CSR in Sport Academy

The CSR in Sport Academy is a series of nine online sessions featuring practitioners from the sports sector. Each webinar provides practical examples, experiences, and recommendations that participants can implement in their own organisations.

If you were unable to attend the webinar, you can catch up by watching the full recording here.