The master's thesis addresses the sustainable aspects of organizing an international sporting event using the example of the Women's European Handball Championship (EHF Euro 2022), which took place in Slovenia. The thesis aimed to analyse how sustainability goals were integrated into the planning, execution, and evaluation processes of the event, and to assess the effectiveness of the measures implemented in the areas of environment, society, and economy. A mixed research method and case study approach were employed. The theoretical introductory part of the thesis is based on the presentation of handball and competitions, but primarily on the presentation of concepts of sustainable development, social responsibility, and sustainable management of sporting events. In the introductory part of the methodological analysis, the overall organization and the course of organizational aspects of the championship were analysed. In the concluding section, an analysis of the action plan and the implemented sustainability activities was carried out, supported by documentation from the organizer.
The results show that EHF Euro 2022 was the first major sporting event in Slovenia with a clearly defined sustainability framework. Concrete measures were introduced in the areas of mobility, waste management, food and beverage, communication, energy efficiency, and involvement of the local community. Despite certain limitations in achieving some objectives, particularly due to logistical and time challenges, the event significantly contributed to the development of good practices in the sustainable organization of sporting events in Slovenia.
The thesis contributes to understanding the importance of a holistic sustainability approach in the organization of sporting events and offers guidelines for future organizers who wish to incorporate sustainability as a key component of their events.
|
