Thanks to efficient online communications tools, the main agenda points and the rationale of the meeting remained unchanged. After a warm welcome by Karin Fehres, German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB)’s Executive Board Member for Development of Sports, Mentee NOCs (Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia) presented news regarding the preparation of their respective sustainability strategies. As each mentee organisation follows somewhat different path due to the varied roles, structures and positions in their countries, the exchange was very beneficial in bringing forward various mechanisms and collaboration tools used by the mentees, which can serve as an inspiration to others. In this respect, the varied elements will also feature in the forthcoming ASAP Sustainability Strategy Creation Roadmap and in the three case studies.

The second meeting block started with an interactive session, where mentees, with the help of their mentors, focused on the why’s and how’s of the creation process of an effective action plan. Following the logical sequence of a strategy building process, the next topic on the agenda was “sustainability management in sport”. The ASAP team was very happy to welcome to the meeting IOC Senior sustainability manager, Julie Duffus, who not only presented the main points outlined in the new IOC “Sustainability Management in Sport” guide, but also took participants through the most important aspects pertaining to the ISO 20121 (Sustainable Events) management standard. To conclude the intensive meeting block, participants discussed the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework with Ms. Duffus, who encouraged them to follow the example of the NOC of Denmark (ASAP mentor), which has recently become a signatory to the Framework.

In the last part of the meeting, DOSB sustainability expert and ASAP Team member, Bianca Quardokus, shared with her colleagues the latest news regarding the implementation of the DOSB Sustainability strategy, while her colleague, Karten Dufft, outlined the main initiatives and aspects of the DOSB’s longstanding work in the area of “sport in nature”.

Originally planned to be hosted by the DOSB at its headquarters in Frankfurt, the meeting had to be transferred into online environment due to the worsening COVID-19 situation in the partner countries.

Next ASAP team meeting is envisaged to take place in April 2021 in Helsinki.