Rethinking sports facilities: changing climate, culture and users

From climate crisis to climate competence

Climate protection and climate adaptation are no longer marginal issues, but determining factors. Over the four days, the more than 45 international speakers unanimously agreed that sports and leisure facilities must do much more than just be energy efficient. It's a question of life cycle assessment, sequestered emissions, and the interplay between government, research, design and operation.

This took on more concrete shape in reports on trends in Scandinavia, among other places: Denmark and Norway demonstrated the way national competence networks ensure that sustainability, rather than remaining confined to flagship projects, is anchored in the everyday operation of hundreds of facilities. The approach combines ecological goals with social use, economic common sense and clearly defined standards. This makes sustainability an integrated process rather than a downstream technical issue.

Quality the result of a social process

The second recurring theme of the congress was the realisation that sustainable sports facilities are no longer purely technical construction challenges. Instead, they arise from the interaction between urban society, administrators, users and planners.

How this can be achieved is demonstrated by the Bürstadt Education and Sports Campus in Germany. This is where an outdated facility from the 1970s has been transformed into a vibrant campus that combines sports, education, health and social amenities. Particularly worthy of note is that the process began not on the drawing board, but with workshops, surveys and in-depth involvement of clubs, schools and the local population. The outcome is a place with a high level of everyday use, a wide range of activities and a clear local identity.

A look at Swiss school playground projects also clearly revealed that good planning starts with listening. Children and adolescents contributed decisive ideas to design, accessibility and varied use. As a result, open spaces have been created that serve as places of learning, exercise and socialising – robust, inclusive and adapted to local conditions.

Resilience thanks to multifunctionality

The third main theme of the congress showed how sports facilities will have to perform dual and triple functions in the future. Municipalities require spaces that not only facilitate physical activity but can also respond to climate risks.

The analysis of multifunctional water retention areas illustrated this impressively: sports areas, which serve as basketball courts or meeting places in normal weather, can store water in the event of heavy rainfall and thus prevent damage to adjacent neighbourhoods. Examples from the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany showed how such areas can be designed, legally underpinned and safely operated. This approach broadens the understanding of sports infrastructure – towards a cornerstone of urban resilience.

In short, sports facilities are becoming strategic infrastructure

The IAKS Congress 2025 communicated a clear message: sports facilities are no longer add-ons, but integral to the central future strategy of modern local authorities. They must be climate-friendly, socially effective, economically viable and architecturally appealing – all at the same time.

Whether net-zero strategies, the circular economy, ecological and social sustainability, integrated planning, inclusion, public value or social return: a common core emerged across all topics. Sports facilities are becoming locations that have an impact far beyond sport – as safe spaces, places of education and locations for social interaction. Those who design, build or operate them are helping to shape the future viability of municipalities and society.