When sport saves the planet

Wed 1 Mar 2023

One of the most prominent minds in the world, Albert Einstein, said: “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”

 

Why it is important to understand nature and to always look for a way to preserve it, was best shown by the organizers and visitors of last year’s ATP 250 tournament, which took place in Belgrade. That this tennis spectacle was not only a great sporting event but also a platform for creating a positive impact on the entire society, which will be felt and remembered even after the last match has been played, was proven by the action “1 ticket – 1 tree”, which was organized during Serbia Open 2022 and spread awareness of the importance of ecology and environmental protection throughout the country.

 

Thanks to this campaign, which aimed to plant one tree for every ticket sold in cities across the country, Serbia became richer for as many as 36,000 sycamore and red oak seedlings, which covered more than 100 hectares of land in 27 cities and over 120 locations, which will annually eliminate up to 840,000 tons of CO2 from the air.

Such events, which are filled with positive energy and fan spirit and gather a large number of people with the same interest, in addition to the love for sports, socializing, and new friendships, are also an excellent opportunity to send important messages and promote topics that have an impact on the entire society.

 

Last year’s tournament in Belgrade, precisely thanks to the large audience, successfully implemented an important environmental project and thus gave parks, river banks, and grassy areas – new green lungs, but also contributed to a better environment and better air quality in Serbia.

 

This environmental action influenced the development of a positive attitude and awareness of the importance of preserving the environment and making an individual contribution both for the present and for all future generations. This was confirmed by the huge response of local self-government, as well as volunteers, children, and citizens who joined the planting action and together promoted a healthier way of life, at each of the planting locations.

The “1 ticket – 1 tree” project was supported by world tennis stars Andrey Rublev and Miomir Kecmanovic, who joined the planting in Belgrade and sent the message about the importance of creating synergy between sports and important social issues, around the world.