MotoGP always aims to make a positive difference, wherever we race. The organisers of the MotoGP Estrella Galicia 0,0 Brazilian Grand Prix made an impressive impact in Goiânia, guiding sustainability and social integration at the Autodromo Internacional de Goiânia – Ayrton Senna. The plan included carbon offsetting, waste management, working with local cooperatives to reuse recyclable material and promoting inclusion through sport.
For carbon inventory and offsetting, the organisation partnered with Soli, which provides carbon credits, offsetting 100% of emissions through projects that recover energy from waste. All common waste is destined for the Guapo landfill, managed by Residuo Zero Ambiental, which serves more than 60 cities in the state. Following the event, more than 52 tons of common waste were disposed of, and 32.7 tons of recyclable materials were sent to local cooperatives.
The Fanzone also played a huge part in educating and raising awareness about emissions. Four LED totems were installed in the Fanzone, encouraging voluntary compensation of emissions related to the travel involved in the circuit. It introduced the theme of decarbonisation and the importance of reducing and offsetting emissions. Following the event, approximately 1,500 carbon credits were made available by Solvi – reinforcing the commitment to mitigating emissions.
For waste management, 400 litres of used oil from teams are collected in partnership with Lwart. It puts properly renewed oil back onto the market, and therefore, all recyclable material is sent to two cooperatives in Goiânia. Recycling Movement, a non-profit institution supported by the State government, brings 80 volunteers to the racetrack to work with the public, guiding the correct disposal in bins distributed in the stands and other areas in aid of collecting the recyclable material.
The surplus of food from stalls and VIP areas is another important focus, with around five tons of extra food being donated to institutions that have the support of the Goias government through the Organisation of Volunteers of Goia (OVG).
CEO of the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Brazilian Grand Prix, Alan Adler, said: “From the moment we announced the event, environmental and social issues have always been at the forefront of the organisation. And it was very smooth, since the Government of Goias has this concern and maintains several actions with the same objective.”
To mark the return of MotoGP to Brazil after 22 years, the promoters established a Sustainability Plan, which promotes environmental policies. Some of their plans include encouraging public transport, the use of clean energy, free drinking water, enabling access for people with disabilities, and combating harassment and racism in accordance with protocols of the UN, the International Motorcycling Federation and MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group.
One of the main strategies included a returnable cup system, which was implemented with a security deposit, with the aim of reducing the consumption of single-use plastics in public areas. This was declared a success with high return rates and some points of improvement identified for future events.
Throughout the three days in Goiânia, the event used a protocol for assisting people in vulnerable situations, which has been adopted by the Government of the State of Goias and the event organisation. They aim to focus on preventing and confronting situations such as discrimination, racism and sexual harassment.
On site, there were five ‘Purple Points’, which are Support Points, which are made available for attendees and were composed of psychologists, professionals specialised in women’s care and legal support, offering a safer and more inclusive environment.
The initiative adopts a zero-tolerance policy which aims to guarantee a safe, respectful and welcoming environment for all. The team can assist in any vulnerable situations, providing necessary support. There is also a reporting channel on the MotoGP Brazilian GP’s official website, which could be used anonymously by all attendees. It was monitored in real time, including the possibility of sending a request for help to the on-site assistance team.
Throughout the event, all actions were coordinated with the public bodies responsible for security and assistance, which includes the Government of the State of Goias – ensuring that any situation is treated with seriousness and speed.
The Brazilian GP also has a variety of social initiatives at the circuit, reinforcing the event’s commitment to the community and inclusion through sport. In addition to the five tons of food donated and the disposal of 645 litres of cooking oil from the kitchens of paddock teams. There were also additional opportunities identified as necessary to implement, such as further social engagement activities, such as ‘Kids Day’.
On Friday, children supported by the Organisation of Volunteers of Goias (OVG) were invited to experience a day at the circuit, watching MotoGP. The non-profit institution works in partnership with the Government of the State of Goias, municipalities and civil society entities to promote assistance and citizenship actions.
Currently, the organisation develops different projects aimed at different audiences, such as children, adolescents, students, pregnant women, drug addicts, burn victims, and families in situations of social vulnerability in all 246 municipalities of Goias.
Then on Saturday, the program continued with the presence of selected athletes from the Pro-Goias Atleta program, a state initiative to encourage sports that includes competitors from various modalities. There were 50 para-athletes and 150 athletes, all medallists from state-level to Paralympic vice-champions. The state program grants scholarships in over 60 sports and aims to support athletes from Goias at all stages of their careers, from sports initiation to high performance in state, national, and international competitions.
Finally, on Sunday, the event hosted participants from the Building Champions project, which offers free martial arts classes for children and teenagers from the public school system, as well as low-income adults. The initiative’s aim is to promote disciplines such as karate, judo, wrestling, taekwondo and jiu-jitsu by using sport as a tool for social inclusion and development. It also aims to encourage values such as discipline, respect, ethics, camaraderie, and coexistence in society.
Alongside initiatives like the Honda-backed road safety campaigns and charity ride at the GP, and Marc Marquez's link up with UNICEF, the Brazilian GP most definitely made a positive impact using the platform of MotoGP.