Impact is planned, not hoped for!
A year ago, I was part of the legacy team delivering the ICF Slalom World Championships Sydney 2025.
Now that the official Event Impact Report has been published, I recommend it to anyone looking for an inspirational blueprint.
Leaving a legacy was part of the Championships' vision from day one and ran alongside preparations for race week. It was planned and budgeted for, with a team responsible for its delivery.
Being strategic also meant that, while the impact was wide-reaching, each activity was anchored to one of the legacy framework's three impact pillars: Sport, Community and Sustainability.
For example some of my highlights include:
Sport:
156,099 minutes of (non-racing) physical activity were generated as a direct result of the event. This included 631 people paddling for 45 minutes each at Try Paddle activations before, during and immediately after the Championships.
Community:
843 school students were given the opportunity to visit the stadium, learn more about paddle sports, watch athletes training, and meet international and Olympic paddlers. This was the first-ever Olympics Unleashed school excursion program, a collaboration between Australian Olympic Committee and Paddle Australia.
Showcasing First Nations heritage began with a community forum to explore how the local Dharug community would like to be involved. The resulting activities included a Water Ceremony, Welcome to Country, a demonstration of dancing and traditional canoe-making, plus a Cultural Heritage Hub throughout the event with local art, crafts and native plants.
Sustainability:
73% of waste was diverted from landfill; 260kg of event signage and materials was repurposed; and the equivalent of 8,643 plastic bottles were saved by using water refill stations. 100% of the event's energy use was matched with renewable energy certificates.
My five key takeaways:
1. Think big.
2. Start early.
3. Anchor everything to a clear framework.
4. Have a strategic plan, budget and delivery team.
5. Collaborate for even greater results.