This module addresses sustainability as a strategic field in sports business and examines the ecological, social, and economic impacts of sports-related activities. It covers the fundamentals of sustainable development in sports, the application and evaluation of ESG criteria in sports management, and the trade-offs between economic, social, and environmental objectives. Additional topics include sustainability strategies in clubs, leagues, and events, the role of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in sport, regulatory frameworks and guidelines, as well as sustainable finance and impact investing. Selected best practices and case studies are also included.
- Understand the core principles of sustainable development in sports
- Apply ESG criteria and assess their relevance for sports organizations
- Analyze trade-offs between sporting performance, commercialization, and societal impact
- Design and implement sustainability strategies for clubs, leagues, and events
- Align SDGs with sports activities and integrate them into impact measurement and reporting
- Take regulatory requirements (e.g. EU Taxonomy, CSR reporting, DFL guidelines) into account
- Apply basic concepts of sustainable finance and impact investing to sports projects
- Interpret best practices and case studies and derive actionable recommendations for sustainability initiatives
Prof. Simon Chadwick, PhD
Professor Simon Chadwick is a researcher, writer, academic, consultant, advisor, and speaker whose work focuses on leading and managing in complex environments. His particular areas of expertise include policy and strategy, international and global markets, and ecosystems and sustainability. Chadwick has three decades of experience in the global sport industry, particularly in an Afro-Eurasian setting (notably the MENA region, East and South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and Europe). He currently works as a Professor of Afro-Eurasian Sport and advises a multitude of organisations in the sport industry.