Towards an environmentally responsible meeting – the Meeting Gaz de France Paris Saint-Denis – july 18, 2008

A phenomenon of society, an element of social connection, an economic market… Sport today can no longer ignore the world which surrounds it and stay away from the effort put into preserving the environment. The organisers of the Meeting Gaz de France Paris Saint-Denis have always been the first to be convinced of this.

They have committed themselves, by working hand in hand with those in charge of the Stade de France Consortium, host to the athletics meeting for the past ten years, to a patient approach directed at sustainable development.

This desire to envelope their organisation with environmentally responsible values and actions is nothing new. However, from edition to edition, it continues to increase in scale. Now it has become a reality that the meeting is committed to producing a “sustainable development charter”, and it is this year making an assessment of the event’s carbon footprint. Analysis of this will enable measures to be implemented to reduce and compensate for this from as early as the next edition in 2009.

With not a moment to lose, the Meeting Gaz de France Paris Saint-Denis will begin several initiatives in favour of respecting the environment:

– In the transport domain, tens of thousands of spectators expected in the Stade de France on Friday 18th July will be encouraged to use public transport. This encouragement is expressed and repeated in all the promotional messages, written and spoken, about the athletics event. A real first: this message will also take pride of place on the face of the entrance tickets to the Île de France enclosure. Spectators will also be encouraged to benefit from car sharing to get to the meeting. A link with the website roulezmalin.fr (travel smart) is already activated on the official Stade de France website. Finally, on event day, it will be possible for anyone experiencing particular difficulties getting around to borrow cycle taxis to reach the stadium from the RER B station.

– Particular effort will be made as regards savings in paper and printing. The press pack for example will solely be available in digital format. The event programme, distributed free of charge at the start of the meeting to spectators, athletes and journalists, will see its format reduced by half. It will be printed on recycled paper and will be printed on an environmentally friendly “Imprim’vert” printer. The purchase of electronic tickets will continue to be encouraged.

Celebrating its 10th year at the Stade de France meeting this year, this approach has been ongoing for some time. What is more, this awareness of the environment will continue to be enhanced next year, and further still over future editions. Without doubt, the organisation will be able to limit the impact the event has on the environment as much as possible, whilst guaranteeing continued quality and success of the meet.

For more information click on www.meetinggazdefrance.com

Ticketing : Buy your tickets now!
Reserve your seats for the Meeting right now

Prices :
– At the finish line: 70 euros
– Category 1: 40 euros
– Category 2: 30 euros
– Category 3: 20 euros

There are three ways to book:
(1) At Stadefrance.com
(2) Via the usual networks and retail outlets (Fnac – Carrefour – Auchan – Virgin – Leclerc – Géant)
(3) By telephone on +33 (0)892 700 900 (0.34 euro/min)

The programme for the evening:
Doors are scheduled to open at 5.30 pm. Initially you can attend the National Meeting from 05.40 pm to 07.00 pm hours then the International Meeting from 07.45 pm.

Gaz de France has accompanied the French Athletics Federation for 17 years and the National League since its creation in 2006, working towards the development of this sport. The Group also accompanies around twenty top level athletes throughout their career within its Team Athlé (Athletics Team).

Within the framework of its commitment, and to enable both the Elite and Junior alike to size each other up each year against the greatest international stars, Gaz de France is also a partner to numerous of the most prestigious athletics events in France at the Meeting Gaz de France Paris Saint-Denis. Again this year thousands of youngsters from associations supported by the Regional Delegations of Gaz de France, will be able to attend the best athletics has to offer, within the framework of the operation "Découvre l'athlé au Stade de France” (Discover athletics at the Stade de France) organised by the group.