ADD2735 Major Sports Events Evaluation Report – project update

1.1.    As per Assistant Director Decision 2654, the GLA has appointed Think Beyond to deliver an annual evaluation report. The aim of this report is to demonstrate the impact and benefit of targeted major sports events hosted in London between 2023 and 2025.
1.2.    Each report will consistently measure data across four core pillars: economic impact; global reach; environmental sustainability; and social integration. The Major Sports Events (MSE) team released its first ever impact report in July 2024, featuring events held in 2023 (Formula E, Major League Baseball, NFL and Ride London). 
1.3.    This first report attracted press attention; and gave the Mayor a platform to showcase London as a global destination for sport, and to validate the benefits of hosting events in the city. It has given the MSE team benchmarks on the level of impact required for the GLA to consider supporting major sports events.
1.4.    The report’s current scope includes a set of environmental sustainability data related to the events, but not carbon footprinting. The MSE team wishes to add to the evaluation report for 2024 events, by collating carbon footprint data. The team will use this data to create tools enabling current and future event partners to reduce their environmental impact.
1.5.    Think Beyond already has a relationship with each of the event partners, and is experienced in carbon footprint assessments. It has developed a methodology, tailored to sports and events, and built on the internationally recognised Greenhouse Gas Protocol standard. It has also developed a web-based platform, the Think Beyond carbon calculator, aligned to this methodology. 
1.6.    Using the Think Beyond carbon calculator, rather than traditional manual reporting methods, has the following benefits: 
•    Each event partner receives access to the secure platform, where Think Beyond gives them direct support to easily collect data and calculate their event’s carbon footprint. 
•    Event partners have access to a clear online view of their data and carbon footprints. 
•    While each event partner only has visibility of their own data on the platform, all the collected data goes into the GLA dashboard. Only the GLA has access to this comprehensive view of all partners. 
•    Through the platform, there is a consistent methodology in how London-based event partners calculate and view their footprint. This makes it easier for the GLA to understand the overall impact of events. 
1.7.    The financial overview is set out below:

2.1.    This additional scope of work aims to better understand and report the carbon footprint associated with major sports events in London. In this way, the work will inform actions that the GLA could take to help reduce the carbon footprint of major sports events (reduction planning); and add value to event-partner relationships by providing carbon-footprint data, and guidance on how event partners could reduce their footprint. 
2.2.    For the events assessed in 2024, Think Beyond would be responsible for the following: 
•    Collecting data: Working directly with the event partners and host venues to collate the data needed to calculate each event’s footprint through the Think Beyond carbon calculator. 
•    Calculation: Via the Think Beyond carbon calculator, calculating the carbon footprint of each event; providing event partners with an online dashboard to show a breakdown of emissions by scope, with year-on-year comparison; and highlighting the activity hotspots. 
•    Report summary: Efficiently compiling all the individual event data into a single report for the GLA, which includes the emissions of all chosen events over the year. 
•    Carbon-emissions hotspot analysis and recommendations: Identifying the key carbon-emissions hotspots across the major events; and developing recommendations for how these can be addressed first, to achieve the maximum carbon-emissions reduction, in the most efficient and cost-effective way. The GLA cannot control all aspects of event delivery; these recommendations will highlight areas where the GLA could play a role, or where recommendations can be made to event partners of venues.
•    Event carbon emissions checklist: High-level guidance across common event emissions activities. This will be a first step in helping events reduce their carbon footprint from planning stage; or will form part of any application for funding. 
 

3.1.    Under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, as a public authority, the Mayor of London must have ‘due regard’ to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation; and to advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations, between people who have a ‘protected characteristic’ as defined in the Equality Act 2010 and those who do not. 
3.2.    As part of the existing scope of the MSE evaluation, we are assessing how major sports events can have a positive impact on social integration – particularly between people with protected characteristics. Specifically, we are assessing direct event impact on: 
•    relationships – how events have encouraged spectators from diverse backgrounds to have positive experiences together; and promoting events to local residents
•    participation – how events have encouraged Londoners of different ages, genders and ethnicities in physical activity and volunteering
•    equality – how events have helped reduce barriers and inequalities for Londoners, by making sure the event: feels welcoming to attendees (e.g. those with accessibility needs); helps to remove barriers to sustained participation, via physical activity, for those in under-served communities; and supports training and development for young people in London.
This additional scope of work will have no impact on the existing evaluation report, which is looking to measure the social impact of major sports events.
 

4.1.    This work will reinforce London’s priorities set out in the MSE Strategic Framework 2023-30 by:
•    adding value to sporting bodies, venues and existing events to develop stronger partnerships that will boost the benefit to London and Londoners
•    providing evidence and in-depth analysis against the sustainability pillar within the MSE strategic values
•    designing interventions and producing data to influence sporting bodies to support the Mayor’s policy objective of making London a net-zero city by 2030. 
4.2.    Since 2016, the Mayor has been on a mission to make London one of the world’s greenest cities; and to be a leader in tackling the climate crisis. 
4.3.    Whilst major sports events bring large economic and social benefit to London, they also have an impact on the environment. Measuring this impact, and producing guidance to support event partners to reduce or offset their carbon emissions, will support the Mayor’s green manifesto commitments as set out in the table below. 

4.4.    The following risks around the contract variation for the MSE Evaluation report have been identified.

4.5.    There are no data protection, health or safeguarding implications identified in this work. 
4.6.    There are no known conflicts of interests, or interests to declare, associated with this decision, including from officers drafting or clearing this decision.
 

5.1.    Approval is sought to spend £25,000 from the 2024-25 MSE budget to increase the scope of work and contract value with Think Beyond for the MSE Evaluation report. This creates a total spend of £75,000. There is sufficient budget within the current year to fund this request.

6.1.    The next steps are summarised below:

ADD2654