The BASIS Sustainable Sport Awards returned to the All England Club last week, bringing together leaders, innovators and changemakers from across sport for an afternoon that celebrated excellence while confronting the growing pressures on the sustainability agenda.
Beautifully hosted once again by Jonathan Overend, and delivered with outstanding support from the Wimbledon team, the event was a timely reminder that sustainability in sport is a serious business at a serious time, with some cutting edge examples of action across a range of sports.
From the outset, Jonathan framed the afternoon against the real-world impacts now reshaping sport: record heat, disrupted schedules, athlete safety concerns, and the accelerating operational risks facing events worldwide. His opening reflected a theme that recurred throughout the ceremony – that while the challenge is daunting, the BASIS community is full of solutions powered by people who refuse to stand still.
The Awards were made possible thanks to generous support from event partners BDP Pattern, CTM Sport and Yesss Renewables, each contributing not only resources but expertise that strengthens the sector-wide push for credible, practical climate action. Their backing helped BASIS create a platform worthy of the remarkable projects showcased throughout the afternoon.
The judging panel – HattiePark (AELTC), Holly McKinlay (WWF), Dave Lockwood (journalist), Adrian Ledbury (Herts Sport Partnership), and Olympic Champion Etienne Stott – faced tough decisions across all eight categories, reflecting the continued advance of ambition and quality across the field.
Our Highlights
Fulham Reach Boat Club claimed the Community Impact Award for its transformative work bringing young people onto the Thames, blending access, confidence-building and environmental stewardship. Its model stands as a powerful reminder that participation and sustainability can reinforce one another.
The Carbon Reduction Award went to Sporting Giants & Useful Projects for their rigorous decarbonisation programme with UK Sport – a leading example of how data, accountability and operational change can chart realistic pathways to net zero.
London Marathon Events captured Initiative of the Year for “Team Green,” a sector-shaping model of mass-participation event sustainability, demonstrating that behaviour change and supply-chain reform can be achieved at scale.
ITV Sport’s EURO 2024 production was recognised with the Innovation Award, showcasing how creativity and technology can dramatically reduce emissions in broadcast operations without compromising quality.
The All England Lawn Tennis Club received the Leadership Award, in recognition of its long-term, organisation-wide commitment to environmental excellence – an influence felt well beyond SW19.
In the Nature Award, the Royal Yachting Association was celebrated for its seagrass recovery and marine stewardship work – a model of how sport can help regenerate ecosystems at scale.
The Clean Water Sports Alliance claimed Partnership of the Year, representing a powerful coalition effect: multiple sports uniting behind the urgent need to protect and restore waterways nationwide.
Finally, the Rising Star Award went to Tom Matthews, recognised for energy, ideas and leadership that already resonate across the sector.
The ceremony also featured a Special Recognition Award for Claire Poole of Sport Positive, honouring her sustained contribution to driving climate action across global sport.
A Serious Moment for a Serious Agenda
Throughout the afternoon, Jonathan reminded the room that climate impacts are no longer abstract or distant – they are here, reshaping training, competition, infrastructure, athlete welfare and fan experience. From marathon heatwaves to extreme-temperature rules in tennis, the message was clear: sustainability is now core to sport’s future viability.
His closing reflections on athletes speaking more openly about climate impacts captured the spirit of the Awards: that sport can, and must, use its voice. And that everyone in the room – organisations, partners, policy influencers, volunteers and emerging leaders – has a role to play in ensuring sport remains a force for good in a rapidly changing world.
A Celebration
The BASIS Awards are always a celebration of ingenuity, dedication and impact – and 2025 was no different. But they were also a call to stay focused, ambitious and collaborative, even as political headwinds and economic pressures grow. Every shortlisted organisation contributed something meaningful. Every winner raised the bar. And every person in the room helped affirm that sustainability in sport is not a side project, but essential to safeguarding the games, spaces and communities we love.
Photos
The awards image bank is now available to view and download using the link below.
