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Press Release - California International Marathon - 2/21/18

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 California International Marathon Earns Gold Level Certification from the 
   Council for Responsible Sport for Social and Environmental Initiatives

EUGENE, February 21, 2018--The 2017 California International Marathon (CIM) 
produced by the Sacramento Running Association has officially earned gold 
level certification from the Council for Responsible Sport (Council), an 
Oregon-based nonprofit that provides objective, independent verification of 
the socially and environmentally responsible work that sports event 
organizers do to make a difference in their communities.  

"I am so proud of the hard work of our staff, Board, and volunteers to 
comprehensively integrate sustainability into our race planning and 
operations processes at CIM," said Race Director Eli Asch. "We strive to be 
a leader in our events' positive impact on our community, and this 
recognition by the Council as a gold-level sustainable event--one of only 
two races in California to receive this distinction in 2017--is a testament 
to those efforts. It's our hope that we inspire our fellow Sacramento-area 
races to follow our lead and make sustainability a core value and a key 
consideration while planning and operating their running events."

The event achieved 48 of the best practice standards set forth by the 
Council, in each of program's five categories, including planning and 
communications, procurement, resource management, access and equity and 
community legacy.  Highlights from the 2017 race weekend that earned credit 
towards certification included: 

Environmental: 

- Developed a formal plan to reduce event's environmental footprint and 
increase social impact
- Diverted 45 tons (77 percent) of all event waste from going to landfill 
by recycling and working to procure biodegradable materials then collect 
and compost them
- Promoted sustainable practices through interactive volunteer stations
- Encouraged active and public transport by offering a free bike valet at 
the State Capitol for secure bicycle parking, and partnering with 
Sacramento Regional Transit to handout free one day passes at the CIM Expo 
& Packet Pick-up at the Sacramento Convention Center
- Identified and calculated all uses of water and energy, as well as the 
resulting greenhouse gas emissions related to producing the event
- Shared intentions, sustainability plans and calls to action on social 
media, at community outreach events, and in participant newsletters

Social Justice and Inclusion:

- Hosted the annual United States Association of Blind Athletes Marathon 
Championships
- Partnered with Goodwill Industries to collect clothing items at the start 
line, on course, and at the Expo for redistribution and reuse in the 
community
- Engaged 66 schools and more than 2,400 local youth in the 'Runnin for 
Rhett' fitness and healthy lifestyle program. 1,802 students finished the 
MaraFUNrun 5k and Fitness Walk during the 2017 event weekend.
- Promoted partnership with the American River Parkway Foundation to raise 
awareness and funds. The foundation is the sole beneficiary of the annual 
'Run the Parkway 20 miler,' produced by the Sacramento Running Association. 

The two-year certification was awarded based on planned activities and 
programs, documentation of policies and on-site assessment of the 2017 race 
weekend by a third-party evaluator from Waste Management Sustainability 
Services.

"The 35th annual California International Marathon was such an impressive 
display of what a sustainable sporting event can look like.  From recycling 
and composting to water conservation and community legacy, the level of 
commitment from race organizers to ensuring that all considerations were 
made was outstanding.  This all-inclusive event made for such a great 
experience for runners, kids, families and spectators alike and it was a 
pleasure for Waste Management to assist in the race's certification 
efforts" said Waste Management evaluator Eric Gray. 

"The certification process is rigorous, with documentation requirements in 
place to ensure transparency and create a useful baseline for tracking 
performance year after year," said Council Managing Director Shelley 
Villalobos. "Moreover, this certification is the result of a process of 
defining and refining how event actions align with stated community and 
host organization values, and that's why this achievement is something for 
the running community in Sacramento to get behind and to celebrate." 
 
About the Sacramento Running Association and California International 
Marathon:

The CIM is organized by the Sacramento Running Association, a non-profit 
organization dedicated to finding ways to encourage people of all ages and 
abilities to run. The SRA is committed to developing new, quality running 
events that appeal to a broad variety of runners. The 36th annual 
California International Marathon will be held on December 2, 2018.
 
About the Council for Responsible Sport:

The Council's vision is a world where responsibly produced sports events 
are the norm and its mission is to provide objective, independent 
verification of the socially and environmentally responsible work event 
organizers are doing and to actively support event organizers who strive to 
make a difference in their communities. The current version of the 
Council's Certification standards (v.4.2) was developed by an outside 
working group of both sustainability and sport industry experts, reviewed 
by a wide range of stakeholders throughout 2013 and implemented in January 
2014. 
 
                                    ###

 

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