Sports & Water, a new wave hitting the water sector – Article AIWW
-
When we consider the idea of partnerships in the world of sport, we instantly think of the massive multi-million-dollar kit deals in football or giant soft drink companies buying the rights to be the main sponsor of international tournaments. It doesn’t have to be like this and we can still benefit from connecting the world of sport with our world. The world involving major challenges around water.
A new Dutch initiative called ‘The Future is Water’ (TFIW) is embracing the challenge of connecting the appealing world of water sports and its successful athletes with that of the major challenges around water in particular. AIWW2021 is proud to host the first The Future is Water Symposium on November 4th. The theme of this year’s symposium is: using the power of sport to make a sustainable & environmental impact. In keeping with this year’s theme, TFIW has invited The Ocean Race & The Open Golf Championship to talk about redefining how major events can shape a more sustainable future. Marit Bouwmeester (Olympic Gold medalist winner) will host an inspirational speech and Q&A to Leaders in Water.
New perspective
“We are thrilled to launch this initiative in Amsterdam and bring the appealing world of sport to AIWW 2021,” says Annelies Schenk, program lead of TFIW. “It’s great seeing professionals in both the water and sport industry both believe in ‘using the power of sport to make an impact on water’. We believe sports will bring a new perspective to AIWW2021, leading to new inter-sectoral collaborations and integrated solutions.”
More sustainable
Recently, NOC*NSF appointed Marcelien Bos de Koning, three-time sailing world champion, as the first ‘chef de emission’. With this new role NOC*NSF want to encourage others to behave more sustainable. Marcelien: “Sport has enormous potential to contribute to a more sustainable world. Especially because you can reach half the world population with sport.”
Will Sarni, Founder and CEO at Water Foundry and speaker at AIWW2021, concurs by saying: “We will not be able to address wicked water problems such as scarcity, poor quality and inequity in access unless we engage civil society at scale and with speed. Leveraging sports communities, fans and athletes, is a powerful strategy to finally achieve a more secure, resilient and equitable water future.”
