In recent weeks, Falun 2027 has held two stakeholder dialogues.
“ The dialogues provided valuable input that we will take with us into our operational work leading up to and during the World Championships,” says Björn Sandström, who is leading the sustainability work for the event.
Former elite cross-country skier Björn Sandström was recruited this spring as Project Manager for Falun 2027’s sustainability work.
The sustainability work will be developed with ISO 20121 as its guiding framework.
At the beginning of the summer, a double materiality assessment was conducted, giving Falun 2027 employees the opportunity to share their thoughts and views on sustainability work and priorities within this area.
As a follow-up, two stakeholder dialogues were held last week – one digitally in English and one in person at the Falun 2027-office, the latter conducted in Swedish.
“Participants in these dialogues have included representatives from FIS (International Ski and Snowboard Federation), previous and upcoming World Championships organisers, national ski federations, athletes from ski jumping, nordic combined and cross-country skiing, as well as partners, the media and members of the public. All of these stakeholders have had the opportunity to share their thoughts and views during the meetings,” says Sandström.
What kind of reactions have you received during these meetings?
“The feedback has been positive, particularly regarding our transparency and our willingness to provide insight into our work. Several of those who participated in the dialogues pointed out that this was the first time they had been invited to this type of dialogue and exchange of experiences,” says Sandström, continuing:
“The thoughts and views shared covered a wide range of areas. For example, there were discussions about how we as organisers can encourage visitors who choose to travel to the Falun 2027 by public transport; how we can create opportunities to use digital solutions to encourage carpooling; and how we can jointly develop a framework together with our partners for the giveaways handed out to visitors during the championships,” says Sandström.
The social and economic aspects of sustainability were also highlighted.
“An important aspect is how the World Championships can contribute to greater enjoyment of physical activity and strengthen the relevance of sport in society. Skiing does not currently reach all groups, and several stakeholders highlighted the opportunity to use the championships to engage a broader audience and generate interest among people with different backgrounds and life circumstances.”
What are the next steps in Falun 2027’s sustainability work?
“Part of the work will involve updating our policy documents based on the new input we have received through the stakeholder dialogues. After that, our focus will shift entirely to operational work to ensure that the elements we have now incorporated into our policies are also put into practice during the championships,” says Sandström, who in recent years has also worked as a consultant within the Swedish Ski Association’s sustainability efforts.
“More and more people understand the importance of staging major events in the most sustainable way possible. At Falun 2027, we have an important role as ambassadors for the joy of physical activity, and we can help create the conditions for people to participate in sport and enjoy being active in nature,” says Sandström.