WSA attend BASIS Sustainability Event at St George’s Park

WSA attend BASIS Sustainability Event at St George’s Park

The Welsh Sports Association’s (WSA) sustainability champion, Sion Jones, recently attended a sustainability event hosted by the British Association for Sustainable Sport (BASIS) at the prestigious St George’s Park, home of England’s national football teams and a beacon of sports innovation and development.

Organised in collaboration with The Football Association (FA), the event brought together several high-profile governing bodies from across English sport to share knowledge, discuss strategy, and explore practical approaches to sustainability in sport.

Held within the world-class facilities of St George’s Park, the event offered a unique opportunity to delve into the FA’s sustainability approach from financial, operational, and strategic perspectives. The day included insightful presentations and roundtable discussions focused on how major sporting organisations are embedding sustainability into their long-term planning.

One of the standout elements of the event was a guided tour of the St George’s Park grounds, showcasing how the FA has made significant strides in integrating sustainability and biodiversity into the design and ongoing maintenance of the site. Attendees explored how the facility balances elite-level performance with environmental stewardship from eco-conscious infrastructure and efficient energy systems to initiatives that protect and enhance the natural landscape.

Highlights included insights into the FA’s work in preserving and enhancing local biodiversity, such as maintaining wildflower meadows, supporting pollinator populations, and adopting sustainable land management practices that align with environmental best practices.

For the WSA, the event was a valuable opportunity to connect with like-minded organisations and learn from practical examples that can inform and inspire sustainability efforts within Welsh sport. The discussions reinforced the importance of a holistic approach where environmental, financial, and operational sustainability are interlinked and essential for long-term resilience across the sporting sector.

As the WSA continues to advance its own sustainability strategy, this event provided timely inspiration ahead of the WSA Sustainability in Sport Conference, set to take place this autumn. The conference will bring together sport leaders, environmental experts, and key stakeholders to explore the next steps in building a greener, more responsible future for Welsh sport. Keep an eye out on our official channels for more information regarding the conference.

We’re excited to carry the insights from St George’s Park into our own work — and we look forward to welcoming partners and members from across Wales and beyond to what promises to be a pivotal event for the future of sustainable sport.