
Schaatsen. NL: Sustainability is an opportunity
If someone had told me three years ago that I would travel to a congress on sustainability as a motivated delegate of the KNSB, I would have at least raised my eyebrows. Yes, it is part of our strategic course, specifically aimed at making ice rinks more sustainable, but I am also known as someone who really likes meat and mainly travels in a (hybrid) car.
A World Short Track Championship in Rotterdam, with the focus on realizing the most sustainable temporary ice rink with KNSB as the driving force, the conclusion of the collaboration with Essent as a partner in the Consortium Team Sustainable Ice with the aim of making ice rinks future-proof, and a conversation with Michiel van Rijn from Alkemade of More 2 win verder, I found myself at the Sport Positive Summit in London.
The opening by a rather activist speaker gave me the feeling that we should just leave sports for what it is, because polluters: that’s what we all are. Not a great start, but after two days I was convinced! Not that I suddenly became a believer and went vegan (the vegan steak I ordered during our first dinner showed hubris). No, it’s not like I’ll only travel by train from now on, but I do think that we can no longer look away, also for another reason.
The topic of sustainability offers (if based on the right attitude) a commercial opportunity! There are many companies and organizations that want to contribute and there is nothing wrong with communicating this through a partnership. Moreover, today’s athletes, especially those of Gen Z, are more than aware of what is happening in the world and what is needed to make the world a better place. When it comes to awareness, they are the designated messengers.
For that reason, I am taking the lessons and example cases from London to heart and, in addition to the concrete steps we are currently taking as the Sustainable Ice Consortium Team, we will also work on other plans and projects that will make our sport in the broadest sense even more beautiful.
If in a few years we are allowed to give a presentation at the next Sport Positive Summit because we have made Team Duurzaam IJs a success and have achieved even more groundbreaking things, I will do so with pride.