Meet the partners through CHANGE project: SandSI

December 2023

In today’s world, the sports industry faces a dual challenge: promoting sustainability and maintaining the passion of its global community. One organization at the forefront of this movement is Sport and Society International, known as SandSI. Based in Geneva, SandSI is a nonprofit dedicated to fostering sustainability in sports. They collaborate with key stakeholders and partners to create a healthier, more environmentally conscious sporting world. 

Can you introduce SandSI and its core objectives?

Certainly! Sport and Society International, or SandSI, is a nonprofit organization based in Geneva. Our core mission is to accelerate sustainability in and through sport. We focus on three main priorities: combating climate change, promoting sustainable practices, and fostering healthy communities through sports.

Who are the key stakeholders and partners of SandSI?

SandSI’s network is robust, with around 200 members, including organizations and individuals. We collaborate with an array of partners, from high-profile entities like Formula E and the NBA to NGOs, sports federations, clubs, consultancies, and over a hundred individual members who bring extensive expertise to the table.

What services does SandSI provide to promote sustainability in sports?

Our main activities encompass connecting, educating, inspiring, and advocating for change towards more sustainable practices. We endeavor to mainstream sustainability into the day-to-day practices of sport organizations, businesses or event organizers. The Sustainable Sports Lab, part of our initiative, serves as an educational platform, promoting challenges like the Air Quality Challenge and Nature Challenge. Within the Football for Climate program, we have also organized workshops. We currently review how we could tailor and improve our services.

Could you tell us about the structure and the dedicated people behind SandSI?

SandSI operates entirely on volunteer work. While we don’t have employed personnel. Our organization comprises an executive board responsible for daily operations and a board of directors, our main decision-making body. We also have working groups, including a communication team or EU working group, each with a board representative.

What’s SandSI’s role in the CHANGE project, and what contributions have you made so far?

In the CHANGE project, we actively contribute to all work packages. However, our primary focus is on Work Package Three, concentrating on digitalization, sustainability, and inclusion. We provide experts to the expert group, organize meetings, and offer valuable sustainability insights for the project’s various components, such as the online course and handbook.

What outcomes and changes does SandSI hope to bring to the sports sector through its participation in the CHANGE project?

Our goals are multifold. We aim to promote integrity, values, and improved governance in sports organizations. Additionally, we want to infuse sustainability into sports sector operations. Through the CHANGE project, we intend to equip sports organizations with innovative governance tools, making them more adaptable to new challenges and more effective in all areas. We firmly believe that traditional sports organization structures need to evolve to meet contemporary demands while ensuring sustainability becomes a core aspect of governance.

SandSI is an inspirational force for sustainability in the world of sports. Their dedication to the cause, especially within the CHANGE project, signifies their commitment to ushering in positive changes within the sports sector. They are empowering the industry to be a catalyst for healthy, sustainable, and inclusive communities.

CHANGE – Cooperation for Change Management and Innovation in Sports is a 36-month project involving 11 partners from 9 different countries:
  • European Non-Governmental Sports Organisation (ENGSO) – Sweden
  • Malmö University (MAU) – Sweden
  • N3xt sports – Spain
  • European Association for Sport management (EASM) –  The Netherlands
  • Organizzazione Per l’Educazione allo Sport (OPES) – Italy
  • Latvian Sports Federations Council (LSFC) – Latvia
  • World Snowboard Federation (WSF) –  Austria
  • Union of sports Federations in Catalunya (UFEC) – Spain
  • Basics sports club (Basics) – Belgium
  • Sport and Sustainability International (SandSI) – Switzerland
  • The National Olympic Committee and Sports Confederation of Denmark (DIF) – Denmark