Green Games
Certification Protocol
The Green Games Certification Protocol defines the requirements, criteria, and procedures used to assess the sustainability of sport events. It provides a structured framework that helps organisers measure, improve, and demonstrate their environmental, social, and economic impact.
Who is this for?
This protocol applies to a wide range of sport events, from small local activities to large international competitions, ensuring that sustainability standards are accessible and adaptable to different formats.
Competitive events
Organised competitions such as tournaments, leagues, or championships where athletes compete for rankings or titles.
Mass participation events
Open events designed for large numbers of participants, like marathons, cycling events, or community sports activities.
Multi-sport events
Events that include multiple sport disciplines, often held over several days, such as regional or international games.
Certification Scope
Certification is awarded to individual event editions, not organisations.
Core Concepts
To ensure clarity and consistency, the protocol uses the following key definitions:
Event
A sport activity with defined start and end dates, location(s), and participant structure.
Event Edition
A single occurrence of an event. For recurring events, each annual or periodic occurrence constitutes a separate edition.
Organiser
The entity or entities responsible for planning, delivering, and managing the event.
Sustainability Coordinator
The individual designated with primary responsibility for sustainability
planning and implementation within the event organisation.
Stakeholder Groups
One of five defined groups: Administration, Organisers, Volunteers, Participants, and Local Community, each of which must be covered in the self-assessment.
Self-Assessment
The process by which an organiser completes the Green Games indicator checklist and
submits evidence via the platform, without third-party audit.
How events are categorised
Events are classified to ensure that certification requirements are fair and proportional. Different event types have different expectations depending on their scale, duration, and format.
By Scale
Events are categorised by the number of participants into three groups: small (under 500 participants), medium (500–5,000 participants), and large (over 5,000 participants).
By Duration
Events are categorised by duration into three groups: single-day events (1 day), multi-day events (2 to 7 days), and extended events (more than 7 days).
By Format
Events are categorised by format into three types: single-sport (one sport discipline), multi-sport (multiple disciplines), and league/series (a sequence of connected events).
Ready to certify your event?
Register on the Green Games platform using an email address, complete your event profile, and begin the self-assessment. Support resources include guidance documents, evidence templates, survey instruments, and access to the Green Games peer network.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is certification free?
Yes. The Green Games certification platform is provided free of charge to all event organisers. There are no application fees, certification fees, or charges for the automatic form check.
Does my event need to be large to qualify?
No. This protocol applies to sport events of all types and sizes. Level 1 is specifically designed for micro, small, and medium events.
Does certification apply to recurring events?
Certification is granted to specific event editions, not to organising bodies. Each edition of a recurring event requires separate certification, though streamlined renewal procedures apply for events that maintain standards.
When is a paid sustainability coordinator necessary?
For micro and small events, a volunteer coordinator is acceptable. Medium events require a dedicated coordinator, though with limited other duties. Large events require a paid sustainability manager. Mega events require a sustainability team with a defined structure.