Members of Sustainability Commission named

The members of the Sustainability Commission are being announced today, Wednesday 5 June, to coincide with World Environment Day and Global Running Day.

This year, the United Nations Environment Program has chosen the theme #BeatAirPollution to celebrate World Environment Day. For the running movement, clean air and a healthy environment are essential, not only for the development of our sport but also to safeguard a better quality of life worldwide.

By endorsing sustainable and environmental practices, AIMS member races are contributing to this global campaign to become an ethical link for a better planet.

AIMS has for many years been a pioneer in promoting good environmental practices among its member races. In 2013, the first AIMS Green Award was presented as part of the AIMS Best Marathon Runner Awards Gala in Athens, the home of the marathon.

During the 9th Symposium in Athens in 2015, AIMS made a strong commitment to tackling climate change and was the only international sports organisation that sent a declaration signed by its President to the historic COP21 (2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference), held in Paris, in December 2015.

The founding members of the AIMS Sustainability Commission bring passion, knowledge and experience of working to promote sustainable running events. All six recipients of the AIMS Green Award have a representative on the Commission.

The Commission is led by International Sustainability Expert George Kazantzopoulos.

The founding members of the ‘AIMS Sustainability Commission’ are:

• George Kazantzopoulos, an international expert in sustainability and environmental responsibility. He was the Environmental Director of Athens 2004 Olympic Games and worked for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Served as member of the IOC Environment Commission as well as the Environment and Sustainability Officer of International Rowing Federation FISA until 2016. He leads the international NGO ‘Institute Team for The World’ which developed the AIMS Green Marathon Guidelines.

• Paco Borao, AIMS President. Paco was elected President at the 18th World Congress of AIMS held in Athens in 2010 and re-elected at Durban in 2014 and Tallinn in 2018. Paco Borao is President of Correcaminos de Valencia, which organises the Marathon and Half Marathon in Valencia. A race, under Paco’s guidance, that has created history by staging several world record performances. Under Paco’s leadership, AIMS has seen substantial membership growth and is now the largest and most diverse marathon and distance race organisation in the world covering 465 races in 121 countries and territories.

• Katerina Viglialoro, Generali Milano Marathon (Italy), winner of the AIMS Green Award 2013. Katerina is Senior Project Manager (Mass Participation Events) for RCS Active Team (Italian event management company). She joined the organisation in 2010 and has over 20 years of experience in event management. She previously held the position of Race and Marketing Director for the Prague International Marathon and strategic thinker of Concept One, a leading sports agency in the Czech Republic focusing on strategies for the Czech Olympic Team and National Football Team.

• Manuel Friedrich, Mainova Frankfurt Marathon (Germany), winner of the AIMS Green Award 2014. Manuel is an event management and sports specialist & has been working for the sports agency “motion events” since 2008. In the marathon office of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon he is responsible for event logistics, course planning (including security, nutrition and elements of sponsorship). He is mostly involved with the race’s environment and sustainability program. In conjunction with Race Director Jo Schindler he wrote the winner’s concept for the AIMS Green Award in 2014.

• Carly Caulfield, Chevron Houston Marathon (USA), winner of the AIMS Green Award 2015. Carly Caulfield serves as General Manager and Managing Director, Operations for the Houston Marathon Committee. She joined the organisation in 2000 and has overseen every aspect of race operations and management during her nearly twenty-year tenure. Caulfield earned an Executive MBA from the University of Houston and garnered the Outstanding Student award for her 2016 graduating class. Caulfield was awarded the Industry Leader Under 40 Award by the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security in June 2016.

• Elin Jansson, GöteborgsVarvet Half Marathon (Sweden), winner of the AIMS Green Award 2016. Elin has been involved with Göteborgsvarvet since 2016 when she did her internship as part of her bachelor’s degree. During her internship she aided Göteborgsvarvet in achieving the ISO 20121 certification. In 2017 she acted as the Deputy Sustainability Project Manager and in September 2018 she became the Project Manager of Sustainability. Some of Elin’s responsibilities in her role is to set sustainability targets and corresponding action plans, create and update policies and routines as well as perform internal sustainability audits.

• Janet Welham, Sanlam Cape Town Marathon (South Africa), winner of the AIMS Green Award 2017. Janet has a successful track record in the development of business & sustainability strategies. Currently she CEO of ASEM Running & Race Director of Cape Town Marathon, she has pioneered the event achieving zero waste to landfill and being certified climate neutral. She is a passionate South African who believes in sustainability initiatives and organic principles.

• Reto Schorno, SwissCityMarathon-Lucerne (Switzerland), winner of the AIMS Green Award 2018. Reto is the co-owner and managing director of Athletics Sportconsulting GmbH in Switzerland. In 2006 he became CEO of the SwissCityMarathon Lucerne. He is also a Board Member and President of SwissRunners.

• Claudius Saldanha, Procam International (India). Claudius, currently serving as Head of Sustainability and Procurement, has been with Procam International since 2005. Claudius has been instrumental in spearheading the sustainability and green initiatives through four of the largest distance running events in India. From developing an urban forest on the banks of the Madiwala Lake in Bengaluru city in 2011, to achieve 100% waste managed races in 2018–2019. He is aptly known as ‘Green Marshall’ at Procam International.

The AIMS Sustainability Commission’s scope will be:

1. To review and update in a systematic way the environmental guidelines
2. To assist in a knowledge transfer scheme to all AIMS members in order to endorse and improve their sustainability agenda
3. To organise seminars and training regarding environmental sustainability in the frame of races organisation
4. To assist the AIMS board in decision making about anything related to sustainability and race organisation
5. To contribute to the international dialogue about bridging sport and sustainability