Sports events have great potential to drive sustainable development, and World Cup Åre is now taking important steps to reduce its climate footprint. As part of this effort, SJ is becoming the official mobility partner to promote sustainable travel, reduce car dependency for volunteers, and pave the way for climate-smart transportation between Nordic competition venues.
Reducing Emissions Through Sustainable Travel Options
Transport is one of the largest sources of emissions associated with events, especially for the many volunteers traveling to Åre from Sweden and abroad. Through the partnership with SJ, volunteers are offered discounted train tickets, which, combined with accommodations within walking distance of the arena, aim to reduce the need for cars.
– In the past, volunteer accommodations were located outside the village, often making car travel necessary. Now, with SJ as a partner and our new accommodation concept, we are creating a more sustainable solution and significantly reducing the climate impact of our volunteers’ travel, says Olle Danielsson, CEO of World Cup Åre.
Train Connections Between Narvik, Åre, and Kvitfjell
World Cup Åre also aims to influence the planning of the entire World Cup tour to reduce travel between competitions. By collaborating with other Nordic competition venues, such as Kvitfjell and Narvik – which also have SJ as their transport provider – future events can be linked through efficient train travel.
– We look forward to developing new train travel options together. These ski resorts have excellent conditions, and we want to be a key part of future Nordic travel solutions for athletes, volunteers, media, and spectators, says Claes Lindholtz, Director of Communications and Sustainability at SJ.
CO₂ Calculator Provides Insights and Control
For the first time, World Cup Åre is using a CO₂ calculator to measure the event’s emissions. In addition to travel, emissions from food and temporary event constructions are also included.
– The calculator gives us a clear picture of our emissions, providing valuable insights for future decisions. It allows us to further reduce our impact, especially when it comes to transportation, says Olle Danielsson.
Contact:
Olle Danielsson, CEO World Cup Åre
olle@worldcupare.com
+46 70-5583369
Claes Lindholtz, Director of Communications and Sustainability at SJ
press@sj.se
