German rail service says sustainability central to its UEFA Euro 2024 football partnership
Clean Energy Wire
German rail company Deutsche Bahn has signed a partnership agreement with the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship to transport teams and fans across the country in a climate-friendly way, with sustainability at the heart of the agreement. Football teams and fans will be able to purchase discounted multi-day European Interrail passes (which will grant them round trips to Germany from 32 countries and unlimited national journeys) or national long-distance tickets at reduced prices to travel to Germany’s 10 match locations, the company said. “It must be ensured that an average of around 56,000 guests and fans per match can reach the stadiums and fan zones safely and easily - in the host cities, nationwide and across borders,” transport minister Volker Wissing explained. “Our mobility concept focuses on rail and public transport,” he said, adding that he would like to see as many fans as possible take advantage of the offer. Deutsche Bahn will add over 400 carriages to its intercity express (ICE) fleet to cope with expected increase in demand, as well as run additional outward and return journeys to and from the match venues.
“We have a unique opportunity to make UEFA Euro 2024 an inspiring green mobility event,” Deutsche Bahn head Richard Lutz said, adding that “together, we want to be a team for the climate.” Tickets will be on sale from mid-January 2024, with the European football championships taking place between 14 June and 14 July next year. The German Football Association (DFB) included a sustainability concept in its bid to host UEFA Euro 2024, saying it wanted the tournament to contribute to achieving Germany’s climate targets and keep environmental impact to a minimum.
More than 85 percent of greenhouse gas emissions related to major sporting events like previous European football championships are estimated to be caused by long-distance and local travel as well as accommodation of guests from all over the world. There have been repeated allegations of greenwashing against football associations. The Swiss advertising regulator recently ruled that FIFA misled consumers by claiming the Qatar World Cup in 2022 was CO2 neutral.
