NC State Hosts ACC Sports Sustainability Virtual Event

Though collegiate sports are temporarily sidelined, planning continues for a sustainable future. More than 325 student-athletes, sustainability and athletics representatives participated in the ACC Sports Sustainability Virtual Symposium on May 20-21.

Hosted by NC State for the second year, the event was originally intended to be an in-person conference in June. Due to COVID-19, the gathering was transitioned to a virtual symposium featuring informative sessions, group discussions, speakers, networking opportunities and virtual tours.

Representatives from all 15 member institutions participated in the event, which kicked off with NC State Athletics Director Boo Corrigan and UNC-Chapel Hill Athletics Director Bubba Cunningham.

“A lot of what we do in athletics is passion-driven. You’re passionate about your opportunity to be involved in the lives of young people; the opportunity to advance them academically, physically, socially, all of those things. I think the people in this call have that same type of passion for sustainability [and] …making the world a better place,” said Corrigan in the symposium’s welcome session.

Focus areas at the event included the impact and influence student-athletes can have for sustainability, best practices for engaging fans in sustainability on game day and every day, and building relationships with sponsors. The event culminated with collective next steps with the ACC.

“We were extremely pleased with the symposium attendance as well as the breadth and depth of the discussion around sports sustainability in the ACC. We are excited to continue the momentum, collaboration and impact of this initiative,” said NC State Sustainability Director Lindsay Batchelor, who helped organize the symposium.

Symposium session recordings and a recap of topics and speakers can be found at go.ncsu.edu/accscc.