With the goal of raising environmental awareness through sport and physical activity, the Fit4Green project brings together university sports organisations and educational institutions to promote sustainable practices on campuses. On June 29 and 30, the Fit4Green team gathered in Kuchl, Austria, for the third in-person project meeting.

The venue was the Holztechnikum Kuchl, comprising of a vocational secondary school and university of applied science, both known for its strong emphasis on environmental education and innovation in timber technology. Located in the scenic Austrian Alps, the school provided an inspiring backdrop that reflected the project’s mission to foster sustainable, youth-driven activities in sport.

The first day of the meeting centred around sharing experiences from the already implemented green sport events. Each partner organisation presented their local initiatives, highlighting their good practices, creative formats, and the impact on participating youth. The sessions allowed the exchange of ideas and reaffirmed the project's core values of co-creation, community engagement, and environmental responsibility.

The events organised already and presented at the meeting included activities by the University of Ljubljana in Ljubljana, Slovenia; and activities by the Latvian University Sport Federation in Latvia.

Also the executed and planned activities by the Holztechnicum Kuchl were presented, ahead of the main sports event day coming up the following day.

In addition to reviewing past events, the partners aligned on key organisational topics, including upcoming deliverables and the roadmap toward the final conference. Scheduled for October 18-19 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, the closing event will feature an internal partner meeting, a public conference, and participation in the European Students Run, part of the Ljubljana Marathon.

The joint conference will link the outcomes of Fit4Green with those of the Runners4All project, further amplifying their shared goals of promoting healthy, eco-conscious lifestyles through sport.

The second day of the meeting was dedicated to experiencing the Austrian edition of the Green Campus Sport Event firsthand. Hosted on the grounds of Holztechnikum Kuchl, the event featured a diverse range of physical activities, including soccer, beach volleyball, table tennis, and alternative games, all infused with a strong emphasis on sustainability.

Young participants were additionally rewarded with incentives such as paragliding courses, access to a local sports park, cinema tickets, and pizza vouchers - turning environmental engagement into an enjoyable and motivating experience.

We extend our sincere thanks to Holztechnikum Kuchl for their warm hospitality and outstanding organisation. These two days in Kuchl not only strengthened the collaboration among partners but also highlighted the creativity and passion young people bring to sustainability through sport. As we move toward the final phase of the project, the Fit4Green team remains committed to empowering youth, sharing knowledge, and building a more sustainable future, one green sport event at a time.

Fit4Green is a project coordinated by the EUSA Institute, uniting six partner organisations from Austria, Latvia, Slovenia, Germany, and Sweden. Over the course of 18 months, the partners are working closely together to organise green campus sport events and develop a Green Campus Sport Event Concept Catalogue - an open source tool offering ideas and solutions for future sustainable, grassroot sport events. Fit4Green is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

More information: https://fit4green.eusa.eu