Challenge by Rimi Riga Marathon - Leading the Way in Sustainable Sports

Problem Statement:

Every event leaves a footprint - even a marathon. The Rimi Riga Marathon has already taken pioneering steps by becoming the first national sports event in the Baltics to assess its environmental impact through a CO₂e audit, compensate for emissions via local projects, improve production processes, and educate society under the Run for Future program. Yet sustainability is a moving target: as expectations rise and technologies advance, the challenge is how to go even further in reducing environmental impact, while also using the Rimi Riga Marathon as a platform to inspire runners, partners, and society to embrace greener lifestyles.

Challenge Objective:

Develop fresh ideas and innovative practices that can further minimize the environmental footprint of the Rimi Riga Marathon and strengthen its role as a leader in sustainable sports. This could involve new approaches to race-day logistics, smarter use of materials and waste reduction, digital solutions that cut resource use, or partnerships that amplify the marathon’s sustainability impact across Latvia and beyond.

Expected Outcomes:

We are looking for forward-thinking concepts that take sustainability to the next level. Solutions should show how the marathon can not only reduce its footprint but also set new benchmarks for the sports industry, motivating participants, fans, and partners to adopt more sustainable habits in everyday life.

Data Provided by Partner:

• Insights from the sustainability audit conducted with the University of Latvia researcher Jānis Brizga
• Information on current sustainability measures and the Run for Future program
• Rimi Riga Marathon WEB page: https://rimirigamarathon.com/en/sustainability/

Support and Resources:

• Mentors from the Rimi Riga Marathon organizing team.