HMŚ Kujawy Pomorze 26: a world-class event with a sustainable focus
Promotion of an active lifestyle and pro-environmental attitudes, strengthening social bonds, and supporting the local economy – these are the key areas accompanying the organisation of the World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26.
“Our goal is for the World Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26 to be not only a top-level sporting event, but also an impulse for lasting, positive change in the region,” says Marshal Piotr Całbecki. “We aim both to increase residents’ physical activity and environmental awareness, and to build the image of the region as a socially and environmentally responsible region and an attractive host of international events.”
The Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region (as the host of the event), in cooperation with World Athletics, has prepared and is implementing a strategy for organising the World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26 as a world-class event with a sustainable focus, based on the following areas:
Promotion of an active lifestyle
- encouraging regular physical activity and raising awareness of the benefits of sport and a healthy lifestyle
- supporting sports talents
- promoting physical activity as a tool for coping with stress, building mental resilience, and improving well-being
Example initiatives: “Successors of Bronisław Malinowski”, “Believe in Sport”, “Catch the Champion”.
Environmental responsibility
- waste management (reducing waste generation and increasing recycling) and emissions management (reducing the carbon footprint related to transport, energy, and material consumption)
- initiatives combining physical activity with care for the environment, including plogging – running while collecting litter – with the participation of local communities, sports clubs, and volunteers
- preventing food waste and promoting drinking water from dispensers by ensuring accessible points
Example initiatives: “Towards Zero Waste at the Arena” programme (waste management plan during the championships), “Green Transport” initiative (promotion of eco-friendly transport for participants and fans), “Energy-Efficient Championships” programme (optimisation of electricity and heat consumption during event organisation) and “Green Kujawy and Pomorze” programme (educational stands, biodiversity workshops, workshops on the benefits of sowing flower meadows, waste segregation workshops, fruit tree planting campaign – restoration of a traditional household orchard in Chrystkowo).
Community development and inclusivity
- volunteering: engaging the local community in event organisation and implementing comprehensive volunteer training, including service for people with disabilities and special needs; the “Walk the Dog” campaign promoting volunteering, empathy, social sensitivity, mental health support, and social integration
- accessibility and inclusivity: ensuring the event is accessible to all social groups, organising fan zones, providing spaces for people with disabilities, and preparing the event to serve people with special needs
- promoting the values of sport, tolerance, and equality
- cooperation with local partners – non-governmental organisations, schools, and institutions
Example initiatives: “Championships Open to All” (full accessibility for people with disabilities and special needs), “Championship Volunteering” (engaging residents of the region in organising the championships), “Walk the Dog”.
Economic growth and innovation
- supporting the local economy
- implementing modern technologies and sustainable development solutions
- promoting the region as an attractive tourist destination
- strengthening the image of the region as modern, engaged, and environmentally friendly
- a Digital-First approach in communication and promotion – using digital information and promotional channels, including QR codes, a dedicated website, and social media
Example initiatives: “Local Suppliers, Global Success” project (promotion of local products and suppliers, use of short supply chains), “I Like Being Here” campaign (promotional materials, cooperation with hotels).
World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26, 20-22 March 2026, Kujawsko-Pomorskie Arena Toruń
Department of International Cooperation
& Press Office of the Marshal’s Office
6 February 2026