sports event management - FIFA/CIES International University Network

Environmental ServicesWASTE NOTWANT NOTBIG CROWDS PRODUCEMOUNTAINS OF TRASH WHICHNEEDS TO BE CLEANEDUP AND DISPOSED OF INAN ENVIRONMENTALLYFRIENDLY WAY. RORYSQUIRES DISCOVERS THATENVIRONMENTAL SERVICESHAVE BECOME A CENTRAL ANDSOPHISTICATED FUNCTION OFEVENT MANAGEMENTWhere there’s muck, there’smoney, and for a sporting event to beawarded a clean bill of health, somepeople have to get their hands dirty.However, whereas managing wasteand cleaning can be lucrative for aservices partner of an event, it can alsobe a major headache if hosts are illpreparedto provide such anessential service.Waste management at a majorsporting event can be a colossal task.For the London 2012 Olympic Games,for example, organisers predict thataround 10,000 tonnes will need to bedisposed of, processed or recycled.Eighty-five per cent of this mountain willcome from food.It may be an unglamorous part of theevent-hosting process, but ensuringthose who attend and compete are ableto do so in a hygienic environment isintegral to the overall success ofthe project.Craig Lovett, the general manager ofthe leisure, sports and entertainmentsector at Spotless International, is oneof the industry’s experts.He founded Cleanevent in 1987,with the company beginning life bysupporting the Melbourne Cup carnival.The Australian firm grew steadily andwent on to play central roles in multipleOlympic Games.Cleanevent was acquired by Spotlessin March 2010 and the Spotless Groupnow has more than 3,500 cleaningcontracts across Australia, New Zealand,the UK and the US and employs around40,000 staff.There is “no rule of thumb” in termsof budgeting for cleaning and wastemanagement services, according toLovett. The services are variable andvisitor numbers are often difficult topredict with any real accuracy ahead ofa major event such as a World Cup orOlympic Games.However, effective waste managementcan also help to reduce the strain on theoverall hosting budget. As an example,the Weymouth and Portland NationalSailing Academy, which will stage eventsduring the London 2012 Olympics,has estimated that it can make costsavings of approximately 15 per cent64