Fit For Green (Fit4Green)

Objective:Raise environmental awareness by engaging young people in sustainable practices through sport and physical activity.

Duration: 18 months, from 01.06.2024 until 30.11.2025.

Purpose:

Encourage eco-conscious lifestyles among youth by organizing and participating in "green campus sport events."

How?

General:

- Research: Identify best practices for integrating sustainability into campus sports events.

- Education: Conduct campaigns and activations to promote environmental responsibility among students.

- Implementation: Plan and execute youth-led, environmentally responsible, non-competitive sports events on campuses.

Specific:

- Green Campus Sport Events: Organize events in Austria, Latvia, and Slovenia that promote participation in physical activity while emphasizing environmental responsibility.

- Concept Catalogue Development: Create a "Green Campus Sport Event Concept Catalogue" to provide sustainable solutions for grassroots sport events.

Partners Involved:

- Coordinator: EUSA Institute (Slovenia)

- Project Partners:

• • Holztechnikum Kuchl (Austria)
  • University of Ljubljana (Slovenia)
  • InnovationsManufaktur (Germany)
  • NYSA Sweden (Sweden)
  • Latvian University Sports Federation (Latvia)

More Information:

- Funding: Co-funded by the European Union under the Preparatory Projects and Pilot Actions (PPPA) in the field of Sport

- Project Duration: June 2024 – December 2025

- Website: Fit4Green Project

Overview:

With the general objective of raising environmental awareness with the help of sport and physical activity, the Fit4Green project brings together university sports organisations’ aspirations for more sustainable sport events and educational institutions’ need to fight unsustainable consumption practices at campuses.

Led by EUSA Institute, a balanced partnership of six organisations, in terms geographical coverage, transnational and local experience and expertise from sports, education and sustainability, implements the 18-month project. Specifically, Fit4Green engages young people to actively participate in sustainable measures using sport events by the planning and execution of “green campus sport events” and preceding campaigns and activations in three countries (Austria, Latvia, and Slovenia).

The green campus sport event is meant to be a not-for-profit, non-competitive, youth-led sport event that is conducted in an environmentally responsible manner with the aim of promoting participation in physical activity and sports. The innovative approach to increase the environmental awareness and sustainability competence of young people through their active involvement in the planning and execution will be summarised in a Green Campus Sport Event Concept Catalogue with environmentally sustainable solutions for grassroots sport events.

In 2024, partners of the Fit4Green project have met three times, twice online and one in person meeting. 

On October 18th, 2024, the first in person meeting of the Fit4Green project was co-hosted by European University Sports Association (EUSA) and University of Ljubljana in the beautiful buildings of the University's Rectorate at the heart of Ljubljana. 

The meeting gathered representatives from all partner organisations, along with youth representatives from each partner country.

The Fit4Green project brings together six international organisations involved in university and school sport, aspiring to create more sustainable sport events and reduce consumption practices on campuses. 

As a special guest to this meeting, Ms Lučka Kajfež Bogataj facilitated a lecture about sustainability, and how to organise sustainable events, what to concentrate on, as well as how the events affect the enviroments. 

While all six organisations representatives engaged in project detail discussions and presentations, the young participants kicked off the workshop with an escape room challenge to break the ice and get to know each other better. Despite being unexpectedly difficult and stressful, the experience laid a solid foundation for the teamwork that followed: “We went in as strangers and came out as acquaintances.” The shared challenge created bonds that set the stage for productive collaboration throughout the workshop.

Thanks to people-centred project management methodology focusing on target groups as well as the co-creation and "Learning by Doing" methods in the implementation, the project is expected to change behaviours towards healthy- and eco-conscious lifestyles and serve as a good practice example for environmental transformation through sport for campuses, educational institutions, and youth and sport organisations in European and non-EU countries and around the world.

Starting the year 2025, on January 24 and 25 the Fit4Green team gathered in Munich, Germany, for an in-person meeting to discuss the next steps of the project, exchange ideas, and inspire one another. This meeting focused on the project methodology, best practices, initiatives and potential risks. Brainstorming sessions were held to generate event ideas and discuss ways to promote sustainable habits among participants. 

A few months into the execution of the project, at the beginning of May, an online partner meet-up was held to review the implementation process of the youth-led green sport events. By then a few green campus events had already taken place demonstrating innovative and impactful practices, including partnerships with public transportation providers, collaborations with environmental NGOs, and creative strategies for sustainable waste management.

On June 29th and 30th, the Fit4Green team gathered in Kuchl, Austria, for the third in-person project meeting. The meeting centered around sharing the already implemented green campus sport events. Each partner organisation presented their local initiatives, highlighting their good practices, creative formats, and the impact on participating youth. Participants could also experience firsthand the Austrian edition of the Green Campus Sport Event hosted on the grounds of Holztechnikum Kuchl. The event featured a diverse range of physical activities with a strong emphasis on sustainability.

Beyond the Finish Line Conference, held on October 18th at Stozice Sports Hall in Ljubljana, brought together students, educators, and sports leaders from across Europe to explore how running can drive sustainability, inclusion, and long-term change. The joint conference gathered over 100 participants, connecting the results of two projects, Fit4Green and Runners4All. Participants gathered to reconnect, exchange updates, and prepare for a day focused on reflection, learning, and future planning. The agenda offered a meaningful blend of reflection, planning, and celebration, serving as a fitting conclusion to the project’s final in-person meeting. As partners look ahead, the spirit of collaboration and shared commitment will continue to inspire future initiatives and lasting impact beyond the project’s official end.

Before the conference, a partner's meeting was held, focusing on the project impact, assessment, and dissemination, setting the tone for an engaging and productive event. Participants gathered to reconnect, exchange updates, and prepare for a day focused on reflection, learning, and future planning.

The final project meeting of Fit4Green took place online on November 21st. Key project activities of the 18-month project were recapped, among them the user-centred focus with co-creation and learning-by-doing workshops in the winter of 2024-25.

The key legacy resources are available at the project website: Fit4Green resources

Resources Published:

- Fit4Green Manual in Action: A practical "6-Step Journey" guide for organizers to co-create sustainable events.

- Impact Assessment Report: Evidence-based insights on how sport fosters sustainability competences.

Fit4green was part of pilot projects and preparatory actions in the field of sport, led by the EUSA Institute (SLO), in partnership with Innovations Manufaktur (GER), Latvian University Sports Federation - LASS (LAT), University of Ljubljana (SLO), Holz Technicum Kuchl (AUT) and NYSA Sweden (SWE).

EUSA Institute as the applicant, together with project partners Holztechnikum Kuchl (AUT), University of Ljubljana (SLO), InnovationsManufaktur (GER), NYSA Sweden (SWE,) and Latvian University Sports Federation (LAT) will in the 18-month period (June 2024 - December 2025) focus on this project, part of the Preparatory Projects and Pilot Actions (PPPA) in the field of Sport.

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.