5 QUESTIONS FOR RENE FLECKENSTEIN
ABOUT THE PERSON
Rene Fleckenstein is the managing director of the Nordic Centre Notschrei in the Black Forest, where he is responsible for working with around 7,000 individual members, over 30 clubs and 17 local authorities. The Nordic Centre is also the German Ski Association's (DSV) national training centre for ski nordic, biathlon and para sports. As a graduate of the Master's programme in Sports Tourism and Destination Management at the German Sport University Cologne, he combines sports expertise with strategic knowledge and heads the organising committee for the International Biathlon Union's (IBU) Para Biathlon World Cup events.
EVENTS AND SUSTAINABILITY
The IBU Para Biathlon World Cup at Notschrei is the second stop in a three-part World Cup cycle and an international showcase for inclusive top-level sport. Over eight days, we welcome around 100 athletes from 19 nations and 100 coaches, supported by more than 2,000 hours of volunteer work.
A location-based organising committee made up of local clubs is responsible for the event. People are key: we inspire them to get involved in parasport and sustainability and empower them to take responsibility. In this way, we ensure expertise, quality and regional added value by involving local companies, service providers and partner businesses.
The venue is located in a bird sanctuary and is also an inclusive training and competition venue. Accordingly, we design processes to be environmentally friendly, rely on regional supply chains and strengthen clubs and local businesses.
Our aim: to organise parasport events with international appeal that combine ecological responsibility, social participation and regional development – and to position Notschrei as a model for sustainable events.
THE INTERVIEW
What initial steps would you recommend to event organisers who are just getting started with sustainability?
We understand sustainability above all as future viability – as an attitude that takes responsibility for nature and people. For event organisers who are new to this, I recommend anchoring the topic step by step.
Essentially, we focus on five key questions: What are the internal and external expectations? What risks need to be minimised? What sustainability goals do we want to achieve in which areas of activity? What added value does this create? And how can measures be secured and financed in the long term?
This results in very specific steps: How can an event be designed in such a way that it has an impact beyond the day of the event – for example, through voluntary work or nature conservation measures? Is it worth using reusable materials or collaborating with other events? Can long-term partnerships with partners and suppliers be established instead of short-term individual solutions?
My most important advice: don't try to start perfectly, just start. With clear goals, actionable measures and a willingness to learn, sustainability will gradually become part of your event's DNA – with real added value for everyone involved.
Which measures proved particularly effective in making the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games more sustainable – and why?
Parasport events are much more than sporting competitions – they are powerful social catalysts. The Para Biathlon World Cups in particular impressively demonstrate how sport brings people together regardless of their background or disability and enables them to experience genuine participation. This special quality forms the basis of our sustainability work.
Close cooperation within the organising committee with local clubs and ski clubs has proven to be particularly effective. The high level of support and intensive, trusting cooperation – also in our role as operator of the federal training centre – creates strong local networks. Together, we continue to develop the location, pool our expertise and present a united front to the outside world.
This benefits everyone: the clubs benefit from improved infrastructure, are actively involved in the organisation of the World Cups and become a visible part of an international event. This strengthens identification, commitment and regional value creation in equal measure. In this way, the Para Biathlon World Cups become a sustainable joint project – with an impact far beyond sport and a clear signal for inclusion, responsibility and sustainability.
What obstacles did you encounter in implementing sustainability, and how did you overcome them?
The biggest hurdle to the sustainable implementation of our events is the increasing uncertainty of the weather – especially in the low mountain ranges. Snow reliability, route availability and situational safety are central prerequisites for sporting quality and economic viability in parasports.
We have overcome this through active climate adaptation: by preserving snow over the summer, we ensure reliable competition conditions at an early stage and reduce our dependence on short-term weather extremes. The combination of natural snow and targeted technical snowmaking makes events easier to plan.
In addition, we rely on energy-efficient infrastructure with renewable electricity, electrically or HVO-powered cross-country skiing equipment and nature-friendly route planning. In this way, we minimise both ecological and financial risks – and create stable conditions for sustainable parasport events.
Winter sports per se always involve certain risks in low mountain ranges. Above all, maintaining snow and suitable trails at the start of the season is always a challenge, regardless of such an event. Storing snow over the summer allows us to be less dependent on weather and temperature. It also saves enormous costs compared to technical snowmaking when, as is the case at our location, naturally fallen snow is also stored.
What vision or idea do you want to implement in the future to make events even more sustainable?
Our vision is to consistently develop sustainability from project to structure – with concrete action in more and more areas and without setbacks. We want to establish Notschrei as a learning laboratory for sustainable parasport events.
A key component is the establishment of a permanent team of helpers and organising committee staff. This ensures that knowledge remains at the location, experience is passed on and processes are continuously improved. Transparency and an honest approach to challenges and risks are drivers of innovation for us.
At the same time, we are focusing on new forms of cooperation: volunteers, federal support centres and operators are implementing projects together. This distributes responsibility across many shoulders, strengthens the community and creates space for bold, future-oriented solutions. Our goal: events that are not only climate-friendly, but also serve as a model for sustainable parasports.
How does the web portal support you in your work on more sustainable sporting events overall, and what particular added value does it offer you in this regard?
Looking beyond your own horizons, picking up ideas and adapting them to your own project is very helpful. The portal gives me exactly that: information and tips from other organisers. Ideas and contacts for a more sustainable future. We are getting better with the portal every year. Next week, we already have the Alpencup – the next event.