Sport Impact Summit: Rewriting the Rules of Sport and Sustainability

Exclusive Interview with Michael Gietzen, Co-Founder, Sport Impact Summit (SIS)

What inspired you to create the Sport Impact Summit, and how has its mission evolved since the first edition?

Sport is a bit of a superpower. It transcends borders, beliefs, and language – it unites in a way few things can. We launched the Summit to channel that force into solving big global issues. What began as a space to share good ideas has evolved into a full-blown catalyst for action – part movement, part think tank, part matchmaking service for people who want to change the world through sport.

The 2024 edition drew major global players. What were your biggest takeaways?

Collaboration is the new competition – SailGP, McLaren, Laureus all showed how working together unlocks scale. Athletes like Lucy Shuker are more than role models – they’re accelerators of impact. And innovation? Just look at REFLO’s circular economy kit. My personal highlight? The Money Ball panel – Dureka Carrasquillo on commercial sustainability was sheer gold.

How did the UAE Ministry of Sports help shape the summit?

Sheikh Suhail’s support was game-changing. He’s a genuine sustainability advocate and helped us turn ambition into action. His backing brought global momentum – and the Sport Impact Declaration was born from that partnership. It’s not just paper. It’s a living pledge – uniting athletes, federations and brands to drive real, measurable change. And yes, we even got our hands dirty planting mangroves with Goumbook. That’s how we do legacy.

What’s on the horizon for SIS 2025?

We’re levelling up – new partnerships in the pipeline (some I can mention, some I really can’t…yet). Think ATP, REFLO, SailGP. Think immersive experiences that make sustainability impossible to ignore. We’re not just talking the talk – we’re building a sport-for-good ecosystem.

How will the Sport World Sustainability Awards shape global dialogue?

Awards make the invisible visible. They turn good practice into gold standard. We’re not just handing out trophies – we’re setting benchmarks and creating a platform where athletes, brands and fans get to rewrite the rules together. The real win? Inspiring the next wave of bold, sustainable ideas – and making them go viral.

Why is the UAE perfectly placed to lead sport and sustainability?

Few places combine ambition, agility and audience like the UAE. It’s a sandbox for big ideas – with mega-events like F1, tennis and golf acting as global loudspeakers. Add visionary leadership and a future-obsessed mindset? You’ve got the perfect storm for sustainable innovation.

How does the UAE’s sporting calendar support SIS?

These events aren’t just spectacles – they’re platforms. They give SIS scale, visibility and momentum. Our partners – DET, DSC, the UAE Ministry of Sport – are aligned on one mission: making sport a force for good. Whether it’s policy change or inspiring public health – the UAE gets that sport is about legacy, not just medals.

How do you balance creativity, sustainability and scale at a global level?

You don’t balance them – you blend them. Sustainability isn’t a constraint; it’s a creative brief. The best ideas come from tough questions like: “How do we eliminate waste and wow people?” And scale? It makes good ideas stick. Get this right and sustainability becomes the showstopper, not the sideshow.

What role do collaborations play in delivering real outcomes?

Collaboration is the cheat code. Governments bring policy. NGOs bring people. Brands bring innovation. When you get them all playing to their strengths – with SIS as the orchestrator – you move from chat to change. That’s the real win: actionable alliances, not just panel sessions and platitudes.

Why should brands and institutions invest in platforms like SIS?

Because it’s where purpose meets performance. It’s not CSR fluff – it’s brand equity, talent attraction, investor interest. Sport Impact turns abstract ambitions into practical results. And it connects you to the people actually shaping the future of sport. In short: if you care about impact, SIS is the fastest route to relevance.

In your view, how can sport be more effectively used as a tool for systemic change, particularly around climate action and wellbeing?

Sport has the rare power to reach hearts and headlines at scale. It connects emotionally, builds community, and holds the attention of billions, that’s a perfect recipe for systemic change.

When athletes speak up on climate, fans listen. When venues go zero-waste, it becomes a visible proof of what’s possible. And when sport prioritises wellbeing, such as the physical, mental, and emotional, it normalises healthier lives.

We’ve seen sparks: carbon-neutral tournaments, mental health initiatives, athlete-led campaigns. Now the challenge is scale. That means innovation, incentives, and storytelling that makes sustainability feel like a core part of the game, not an optional extra. Sport isn’t just a mirror to society. It can be the lever that moves it.

What advice would you give to young professionals or changemakers who want to work at the intersection of sport, sustainability, and innovation?

Learn to speak both languages; the commercial reality of sport and the systems thinking of sustainability. That’s where the real impact happens.

Be a storyteller. Show how sustainability enhances performance, legacy, and fan loyalty. Start small, measure everything, and scale what works. Find your crew, because this space thrives on cross-sector collaboration. Be the bridge between ambition and action.

And remember: this field is wide open. Sport needs fresh thinking. Sustainability needs scale. Innovation needs a stage. You’ve picked the right arena, now go play.