Laszlo Solymos, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment, and Igor Nemecek, Organizing Committee Director
photo: Jan Sukup / 2019 IIHF MS
The Organizing Committee of 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, together with the Ministry of the Environment, has introduced “green news“ during the World Championship. Together they will offer a more responsible approach to waste management. There will be some 600 multi-purpose garbage bins, recyclable cups in fan zones, and plates made from sugar cane in snack bars.
“Without the support from fans, this initiative will not be a success, so we ask everyone to support this program,“ said Laszlo Solymos, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment. “We have the chance to be proud not only of the Slovak national team‘s performance on ice but also proud of the fact that Slovakia is becoming a country that takes a responsible approach to the environment.“
“We have seen that taking a responsible approach to the environment is common at major sporting events around the world,“ said Igor Nemecek, Organizing Committee Director for this World Championship. “We want to make sure we do everything we can to reduce any negative impact the tournament might have on the environment.“
Green activities will focus on responsible waste management. There will be 600 well-marked bins to separate waste in arenas and fan zones. The most important feature will be to separate paper, glass, and plastics in different coloured containers to ensure each type of waste is sent to the proper facilities.
As well, fans will be able to buy refreshments in biodegradable packages. For example, plates, bowls, cups, and spoons are all made from sugar cane, while forks and knives come from bioplastics (note: the raw material to produce these is vegetable biomass, which is produced from renewable resources and is not dependent on crude oil and its additives).
“We are happy that we have managed to provide recyclable cups in both fan zones,” explained Zuzana Moravcikova, who manages green initiatives for the Organizing Committee. “For security reasons, they will not be available at arenas. Instead, we will provide special coffee cups for the 700 journalists and hundreds of volunteers working inside. As a result, we have eliminated all single-use plastics.”
Besides helping the environment, fans will be able to see that banning single-use plastics has no negative effect on everyday life. High use items such as toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, and tissues are made from recycled paper.
“We try to encourage fans to travel by train for the games because this is the most ecologically form of travel,“ Nemecek added. “We also feel that we can reduce cars on the road by offering ticket holders free use of public transport in both Kosice and Bratislava on game days.“
Organizers expect some half a million visitors to the tournament. “Ensuring responsible waste management in venues that were not designed for it, at an event with hundreds of thousands of visitors, has been a huge challenge. If we manage it, with the help of fans, then I believe that recycling will become a standard way of life at all big sporting and cultural events in Slovakia,” said Laszlo Solymos.
“Without the support from fans, this initiative will not be a success, so we ask everyone to support this program,“ said Laszlo Solymos, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment. “We have the chance to be proud not only of the Slovak national team‘s performance on ice but also proud of the fact that Slovakia is becoming a country that takes a responsible approach to the environment.“
“We have seen that taking a responsible approach to the environment is common at major sporting events around the world,“ said Igor Nemecek, Organizing Committee Director for this World Championship. “We want to make sure we do everything we can to reduce any negative impact the tournament might have on the environment.“
Green activities will focus on responsible waste management. There will be 600 well-marked bins to separate waste in arenas and fan zones. The most important feature will be to separate paper, glass, and plastics in different coloured containers to ensure each type of waste is sent to the proper facilities.
As well, fans will be able to buy refreshments in biodegradable packages. For example, plates, bowls, cups, and spoons are all made from sugar cane, while forks and knives come from bioplastics (note: the raw material to produce these is vegetable biomass, which is produced from renewable resources and is not dependent on crude oil and its additives).
“We are happy that we have managed to provide recyclable cups in both fan zones,” explained Zuzana Moravcikova, who manages green initiatives for the Organizing Committee. “For security reasons, they will not be available at arenas. Instead, we will provide special coffee cups for the 700 journalists and hundreds of volunteers working inside. As a result, we have eliminated all single-use plastics.”
Besides helping the environment, fans will be able to see that banning single-use plastics has no negative effect on everyday life. High use items such as toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, and tissues are made from recycled paper.
“We try to encourage fans to travel by train for the games because this is the most ecologically form of travel,“ Nemecek added. “We also feel that we can reduce cars on the road by offering ticket holders free use of public transport in both Kosice and Bratislava on game days.“
Organizers expect some half a million visitors to the tournament. “Ensuring responsible waste management in venues that were not designed for it, at an event with hundreds of thousands of visitors, has been a huge challenge. If we manage it, with the help of fans, then I believe that recycling will become a standard way of life at all big sporting and cultural events in Slovakia,” said Laszlo Solymos.