2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships under the banner of inclusion

Thu, 08/15/2024 - 12:00

A sustainability concept that covers all areas

Environment, society, economy, management… the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships have a sustainability concept that covers all areas of the event taking place in Zurich, Switzerland, in September.

“We have set specific sustainability goals and these will be measured and reported in our Sustainability Report,” says the sustainability expert for the Local Organising Committee (LOC) Fabienne Dirksen.

The far-reaching vision and goals have led to initiatives to help slow climate change, promote tourism, favour inclusion and diversity, encourage active mobility, improve health, reduce waste, and use local produce and services.

We put the spotlight on two of their initiatives.

Hosted areas for people with impairments

It will be the first time that the UCI Road World Championships and UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships are combined into one event, and the organisers have carried this theme over to the spectator experience.

Hosted areas in key locations will enable people with impairments to enjoy the event with friends and family. These areas will be equipped with sitting cubes that can be easily moved and placed next to a wheelchair according to the needs of the guest. Depending on the time and schedule, guests will be able to take up to three friends or family members to one of these hosted areas. Wheelchair-accessible bathrooms are close by and the hosted areas are in proximity to food and drinks. A staff member will be on hand to provide help as necessary. The following four hosted areas will be available:

  • FINISH LINE on the spectator platform on the Sechseläutenplatz with a view of the finish line

  • FAN ZONE on the Sechseläutenplatz with view of the stage

  • ACTIVE ZONE in the Fan Zone at the Bürkliplatz, close to the action

  • RELAX ZONE on the Sechseläutenplatz, providing a quieter area for people requiring some time to relax (also intended for older people and pregnant women).

Para-cyclist and LOC member Tobias Fankhauser provided much input into the development of the concept, and feedback was also asked of people with different types of impairment.

Encouraging spectators to cycle

With hundreds of thousands of spectators expected in Zurich for the nine days of competition (21-29 September 2024) the organisers are doing all they can to limit the use of cars.

“Travel to the event by visitors is the biggest contributor of CO2 emissions,” explains Fabienne Dirksen. She adds “To reduce emissions before they happen, we want to promote travelling by public transport, bike or foot.”

The LOC is promoting the use of bikes by communicating the best bike routes to get to Zurich and installing three large and secure bike parking areas close to the fan zone in the middle of the city “so it does not even make sense not to travel by bike.”

Those who cannot or do not wish to cycle to the event, have the option of using the public transport ticket included in the fan ticket to access the Sechseläutenplatz.

Partners and sponsors on board

Zurich 2024 has drawn up a Sustainability Charter based on guidelines produced by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. The Charter has been signed by all Board members of the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships Zurich Association, and is included as an appendix to the contracts with all the event’s partners and sponsors. Fabienne Dirksen is in touch with some to help them implement their initiatives.

Read more about Zurich 2024’s sustainability vision and goals here.