World Athletics releases annual sustainability report for events
World Athletics on Tuesday released its first annual review assessing meets against its "Athletics for a Better World" standard, designed to minimise environmental impact while enhancing social and local economic benefits.
The sustainability report categorised events from 2024 into five achievement levels - platinum, gold, silver, bronze and recognised - based on compliance with the ABW standard.
"The World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24 and the Oslo Bislett Games achieved platinum, and the Hypo-Meeting combined events meeting in Gotzis, Austria, and the Weltklasse Zurich achieved gold," World Athletics said in a statement.
The review, which looked at reports from 102 events from 36 countries, found that 48 meets reached one of the achievement levels.
"It's a start our entire sport can be proud of," World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said in a statement.
'We knew from experience and discussions with organisers that sustainability planning and reporting does require an allocation of additional time, resources and expertise. And we know that poses organisational challenges across our events, which will need time to change."
The ABW standard evaluated events in six areas, including leadership in sustainability, sustainable production and consumption, climate change and carbon, local environment and air quality, global equality as well as diversity, accessibility and wellbeing.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Two found dead after fire in Toa Payoh flat
Singapore Singaporeans aged 21 to 59 can claim $600 SG60 vouchers from July 22
Singapore Singaporeans continue to hold world's most powerful passport in latest ranking
Singapore Singapore, Vietnam agree to step up defence ties, dialogue between leaders
Asia Malaysia govt's reform pledge tested as DAP chief bows over unresolved 2009 death of political aide
Tech Singapore to increase pool of early adopters in AI to complement data scientists, engineers
Singapore Prosecution says judge who acquitted duo of bribing ex-LTA official had copied defence arguments
Singapore Ports and planes: The 2 Singapore firms helping to keep the world moving
"When fully adopted, the ABW standard will apply to about 500 in-stadium athletics and mass participation road running events, making it the largest sustainability evaluation system in the sport industry," World Athletics added. REUTERS
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Straits Times
28 minutes ago
- Straits Times
California ammunition background checks declared unconstitutional by US appeals court
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Guns and ammunition for sale in Sacramento, California. A divided federal appeals court on July 24 said California's first-of-its-kind law requiring firearm owners to undergo background checks to buy ammunition is unconstitutional, violating the Second Amendment right to bear arms. In a 2-1 vote, the ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena, California upheld a lower court judge's permanent injunction against enforcing the law. Circuit Judge Sandra Ikuta said the law 'meaningfully constrains' people's right to keep and bear arms. She also said California failed to show the law was consistent with the country's historical tradition of firearm regulation as required under a 2022 landmark US Supreme Court decision, New York State Rifle and Pistol Association vs Bruen. 'By subjecting Californians to background checks for all ammunition purchases, California's ammunition background check regime infringes on the fundamental right to keep and bear arms,' Ms Ikuta wrote. California officials expressed disappointment. 'Today's decision is a slap in the face to the progress California has made in recent years to keep its communities safer from gun violence,' Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business GIC posts 3.8% annualised return over 20 years despite economic uncertainties Business GIC's focus on long-term value aims to avoid permanent loss amid intensifying economic changes Opinion No idle punt: Why Singapore called out cyber saboteur UNC3886 by name Asia Both Cambodia, Thailand willing to consider ceasefire, says Malaysian PM Anwar Singapore Singapore urges all parties in Thailand-Cambodia border dispute to exercise restraint Business MAS' measures spark cautious optimism for Singapore stock market revival: Analysts World Trump, Fed chief Powell bicker during tense central bank visit Life Hulk Hogan, who helped turn pro wrestling into a billion-dollar spectacle, dies at 71 A spokesperson for state Attorney General Rob Bonta, also a Democrat, said 'our families, schools, and neighborhoods deserve nothing less than the most basic protection against preventable gun violence, and we are looking into our legal options.' All three judges on July 24's panel were appointed by Republican presidents, though appointees of Democratic presidents hold a 9th Circuit majority. California can ask an 11-judge appeals court panel or the Supreme Court to review the decision. The plaintiffs included Ms Kim Rhode, who has won three Olympic gold medals in shooting events, and the California Rifle & Pistol Association. In a joint statement, the group's president and general counsel Chuck Michel called the decision a victory against 'overreaching government gun control,' while Ms Rhode called it 'a big win for all gun owners in California.' Many gun rights groups and 24 mostly Republican-led US states submitted briefs supporting the law's opponents, while a few gun safety groups sided with California. Ms Janet Carter, managing director of Second Amendment litigation at Everytown Law, in a statement said California's law imposed a 'minimal burden,' a US$1 (SS$1.20) fee and one-minute delay, for most firearms owners seeking ammunition. 'Background checks for ammunition sales are common sense,' she said. Voters had in 2016 approved a California ballot measure requiring gun owners to undergo initial background checks to buy ammunition, and buy four-year ammunition permits. Legislators later amended the measure to require background checks for each ammunition purchase. California said it received 191 reports in 2024 of 'armed and prohibited individuals' who were blocked through background checks from buying ammunition. The injunction was issued by US District Judge Roger Benitez in San Diego, who has ruled in several cases in favour of gun owners. An appeals court panel put the injunction on hold during California's appeal. California said several old firearms restrictions supported the background checks. These included colonial era rules requiring licenses to produce gunpowder, the disarmament around 1776 of people who refused to take 'loyalty oaths,' and late-19th century rules requiring government permission to carry concealed weapons. Circuit Judge Jay Bybee dissented from the decision. He accused the majority of flouting Supreme Court guidance by effectively declaring unlawful any limits on ammunition sales, given the unlikelihood a state can point to identical historical analogues. The law 'is not the kind of heavy-handed regulation that meaningfully constrains the right to keep and bear arms,' Mr Bybee wrote. President George W. Bush appointed Ms Ikuta and Mr Bybee to the bench, while President Donald Trump appointed Circuit Judge Bridget Bade, who joined the majority. REUTERS

Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Brazil VP hails 'good' and 'fruitful' conversation with Lutnick on tariffs
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Brazil's Vice President Geraldo Alckmin speaks during a ceremony at the Planalto Palace, in Brasilia, Brazil, July 14, 2025. REUTERS/Adriano Machado/File Photo BRASILIA - Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin said on Thursday that he had reiterated his country's willingness to negotiate proposed U.S. tariffs on imports from Latin America's No. 1 economy during a conversation on Saturday with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Alckmin said he and Lutnick had a "good" conversation last week that lasted about an hour. The U.S. has announced 50% tariffs on Brazilian imports starting August 1, a measure U.S. President Donald Trump has tied to judicial measures against former president and ideological ally Jair Bolsonaro, who has been accused of plotting a coup. Brazilian officials have been holding discussions with local companies to evaluate the potential impacts of the tariffs, while also preparing measures to mitigate those effects and studying potential countermeasures. But Brazilian authorities have said they have been struggling to contact high officials of the U.S. government for direct negotiation. "The conversation (with Lutnick) was fruitful," Alckmin said, noting the specifics of the discussions should be kept confidential. "We didn't create this problem, but we want to resolve it," the Brazilian VP added. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business GIC posts 3.8% annualised return over 20 years despite economic uncertainties Business GIC's focus on long-term value aims to avoid permanent loss amid intensifying economic changes Opinion No idle punt: Why Singapore called out cyber saboteur UNC3886 by name Asia Deadly Thai-Cambodian dispute puts Asean's relevance on the line Singapore Singapore urges all parties in Thailand-Cambodia border dispute to exercise restraint World Trump, Fed chief Powell bicker during tense central bank visit Singapore Khatib Camp to make way for housing, with its functions moving to Amoy Quee Camp Life Hulk Hogan, who helped turn pro wrestling into a billion-dollar spectacle, dies at 71 The White House did not immediately reply to a request for comment. REUTERS

Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
MAS' measures spark cautious optimism for Singapore stock market revival: Analysts
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Following the latest announcements, the benchmark Straits Times Index reached an all-time high of 4,273 points on July 24. SINGAPORE - Efforts to revitalise Singapore's equities market are showing promise, with the benchmark Straits Times Index reaching an all-time high of 4,273 points on July 24 , following the latest announcements. However, analysts caution that there is still a lack of clarity on how the appointed asset managers will execute their strategies to effectively support local companies and boost market liquidity. This comes in response to the Monetary Authority of Singapore's (MAS) July 21 announcement allocating an initial $1.1 billion to three asset managers to invest in the Singapore stock market. Avanda Investment Management, Fullerton Fund Management, and JP Morgan Asset Management were appointed to manage the first $1.1 billion tranche under the $5 billion Equity Market Development Programme announced in February. The move, taken to revive trading on the local stock market as well as draw new companies to list, signals that the Government is invested in building a more attractive capital market ecosystem and boosting liquidity on the Singapore Exchange (SGX), experts said. Smaller companies that are not component stocks of the benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) have the most to gain. 'Small and mid-cap companies on SGX's mainboard and Catalist stand to benefit from a more vibrant capital market and broader investor base,' said Ms Lee Khai Yinn, head of continuing sponsorship at SAC Capital. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business GIC posts 3.8% annualised return over 20 years despite economic uncertainties Business GIC's focus on long-term value aims to avoid permanent loss amid intensifying economic changes Opinion No idle punt: Why Singapore called out cyber saboteur UNC3886 by name Asia Deadly Thai-Cambodian dispute puts Asean's relevance on the line Singapore Singapore urges all parties in Thailand-Cambodia border dispute to exercise restraint Life Hulk Hogan, who helped turn pro wrestling into a billion-dollar spectacle, dies at 71 Singapore Khatib Camp to make way for housing, with its functions moving to Amoy Quee Camp World Trump, Fed chief Powell bicker during tense central bank visit 'Improved visibility, liquidity and valuation will enable these companies to raise capital or pursue acquisitions using their shares at fair value to support future growth.' She added, 'Beyond injecting liquidity, the deployment should also aim to stimulate trading activity in the market.' Mr Jason Saw, CGS International group head of investment banking, added that the asset managers have a dual responsibility: to generate returns and to support market liquidity. 'We believe well-governed, fundamentally sound companies, particularly those previously overlooked, will benefit from better valuation support,' he said. Endowus chief investment officer Hugh Chung added that the initial step will help to bring attention to less-known names in the Singapore stock market, particularly the small and mid-cap companies, which lack representation in investor portfolios. Mr Shane Chesson, vice-chairman of the Singapore Venture and Private Capital Association, said the $5 billion could be 'boosted several times over' through the asset managers' fundraising capabilities, as well as growing investor interest, especially if strong local companies see the opportunity to list and grow. Mr Chesson added that once strong companies list and trade well, they'll generate their own momentum and, eventually, external catalysts won't be needed. In that light, companies considering a listing on SGX should begin evaluating the opportunity by examining the market, involving their boards early, and gathering initial feedback from key stakeholders, he said. More clarity needed Still, it remains to be seen how the $1.1 billion will be deployed in the market, and analysts say greater clarity is vital for companies to shape more informed listing and capital-raising strategies. How the funds will be used to deepen market liquidity and promote research remain key questions, said Mr Robson Lee, a corporate finance lawyer at law firm Kennedys Singapore. 'The devil lies in the details, and ultimately aspirant issuers can have a lot more confidence when they decide to list their companies. It's not just about numbers, we want to attract good quality companies.' He added that information on fund allocation to support promising small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their listing aspirations and corporate governance compliance is also crucial. So far, Avanda, co-founded by former GIC chief investment officer Ng Kok Song, is the only one of the three asset managers to have provided some detail on its strategy. It will launch a standalone Avanda Singapore Discovery Fund focused on SGX-listed companies, with a strong focus on small and mid-cap stocks. Its strategy will be to target stocks with value opportunities, local champions and turnarounds. Fullerton Fund Management has said it will set up a unit trust that will be invested in SGX-listed stocks across all market capitalisations. JP Morgan Asset Management did not reveal its plans, but noted that its team has extensive expertise in researching and investing in Singapore equities. Meanwhile, with more asset managers expected to join the Equity Market Development Programme by year-end, scepticism is growing over whether the original $5 billion allocation is sufficient for effective market deployment. MAS did not reveal how many asset managers it plans to appoint. When asked, it also said that it will not guarantee their investment performance, and that asset managers under the programme are solely responsible for their portfolio management decisions. Mr Lee noted that the asset managers should be afforded the flexibility to make dynamic investment decisions and not be hamstrung by strict targets and requirements set by MAS. On the $5 billion allocation, Mr Amit Singh, head of South and Southeast Asia capital markets at Linklaters, said there is 'no science or magic number'. He noted that policymakers will likely assess the impact of the initial investment before deciding if more funds are warranted. Any additional funds allocation must also take into account the broader global environment. More IPOs to come Ultimately, the true measure of success of MAS' programme will be whether it fosters a new generation of growth companies that provide long-term investment opportunities while maintaining strong corporate governance. This would be a much-needed step up from the current market, where a number of companies on Catalist, SGX's growth market board, have been languishing. Mr Chesson sees brighter days ahead for the Singapore market, citing recent IPOs such as NTT DC Reit and software services provider Info-Tech Systems, with more in the pipeline. 'We can't expect companies to list on a dime but the momentum is building and the overall market conditions globally remain quite conducive. People will be surprised by the scale and growth of some of the listings which are on the potential list right now.' Deloitte South-east Asia's transactions accounting support leader Tay Hwee Ling said that signs of recovery in the Singapore IPO market are emerging, alongside improving market conditions. 'We have seen renewed interest from global issuers, reinforcing Singapore's appeal as a location for cross-border capital raising,' she noted. Mr Ho Han Ming, partner at Reed Smith, said the move from a merits-based to a disclosure-based listing regime has been a positive step, but more such measures are needed to build a capital markets ecosystem that ensures transactions are valued fairly and transparently. Other measures announced by MAS on July 21, such as increased funding support for equities research, are also welcome. Financial platform Beansprout's chief executive Gerald Wong said: 'The new grant support for research on private companies with a strong local presence can help foster investor familiarity and visibility, potentially building a stronger pipeline of companies preparing to go public.' He noted that listed companies can also improve shareholder engagement and take more active steps to unlock value for retail investors, such as clearer capital allocation strategies, more transparent communication of growth plans, or improved dividend policies. SGX on the mend Whatever the case, investors have so far reacted positively to MAS' efforts to revive the stock market, with the STI crossing the 4,000-point mark for the first time on July 3. Mr Matthias Chan, head of equities research at SAC Capital, said the large-cap stocks' performance on the STI is not the best indicator of the broader market, and highlighted the small and mid-cap segment as a key area for growth. 'While the small to mid-cap space may be up 18 per cent over a year, it remains down around 6 per cent over a five-year period, suggesting there is further room for outperformance in this space.' In particular, the sub-$500 million market cap stocks would be one area to watch, he added. Many non-STI stocks have already benefitted from the returning interest. Examples include construction firm OKP, property development firm Wee Hur and instant coffee maker Food Empire, which have all hit record highs in recent weeks. Mr Thilan Wickramasinghe, head of research and regional financials at Maybank, said the recent market performance shows that Singapore stocks are finally catching up, and added that he does not believe they are overperforming. 'For more than a decade, the Singapore market has been lacklustre with depressed valuations. Much-needed market reforms, together with favourable macro and geopolitical tailwinds, are bringing back interest to SGX. 'While many stocks are now trading at higher valuations relative to their past, we must question whether historical multiples accurately reflected their value. It was common to see peers listed in other regional exchanges trading at materially higher multiples, and sometimes the very same assets listed abroad commanded significantly higher valuations,' he said. Mr Vasu Menon, managing director of investment strategy at OCBC, said small-cap stocks have underperformed by a wide margin compared to large-cap stocks over the last five years. 'The MSCI Singapore Index, a greater reflection of large caps, posted a 42 per cent return in the past five years in Singapore dollar terms while the MSCI Singapore Small Cap Index was flat with a mere 0.5 per cent.' Ultimately, progress in the Equity Market Development Programme shows that the Government is taking concrete steps to support smaller companies, which bodes well for the local bourse over the medium term, he added.