For the first time at an international collegiate multisport event, sustainability will be a major theme and provide a model for future FISU Games.

Organisers say they are hopeful that the Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games, due to be held from January 12 to 22, will be an eco-friendly event, and say those efforts will involve spectators, volunteers, officials and athletes.

Save Winter is designed to link the environment with every aspect of the competition.

With the motto "Together We Can - Save Winter", the initiative plans to provide climate action education, reduce and mitigate the event’s carbon footprint, minimise waste to landfill, encourage responsible sourcing, and leave a legacy of awareness for future sporting events in the Adirondack region, New York State and beyond.

"Everyone who lives, plays and works in a winter community knows that our climate is warming and we’re going to lose winter if we don’t do something," said Ashley Walden, executive director of the Adirondack Sports Council, the Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games Organising Committee.

"The Save Winter campaign will help students and people everywhere positively engage in this important, challenging work to reduce carbon and save winter."

The Save Winter project will be the theme for both the FISU World Conference and sustainability initiatives at the FISU Games, powered by Hydro-Quebec and supported by ESPN, Karbon, and Microplus.

As part of the commitment to Save Winter, competitions will be held at venues that have shown a commitment to sustainability and combating climate change impacts to winter activities.

The New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA), one of the host partners for the Games and the operator of the venues where most of the competitions are set to be held, has utilised investments by the State of New York to rebuild and modernise the venues used for the 1932 and 1980 Olympic Winter Games, mitigating climate change impacts to winter activities.

ORDA’s upgraded infrastructure includes high efficiency snowmaking, hybrid snow groomers and electric Zambonis, LED technology, new cooling systems and industrial refrigeration improvements, salt-use reduction and solar arrays.

The largest solar array in the United States dedicated to a ski area is located at Gore Mountain, in North Creek, where snowboard and freestyle events are due to take place.

There are also over 12 acres of solar panels that support power at Whiteface Mountain, the site for January’s Alpine events.

"These installations offset tons of carbon dioxide and generate renewable energy for the local power grids, providing a source of clean electricity in the regions where they are located," said Michael Pratt, ORDA President and chief executive.

"Sustainability is infused naturally as part of our decision making.

"The culture of our staff and communities expects life cycle analysis of the infrastructure required for our operations.

"Together, with the initiatives to be implemented for the Lake Placid 2023 FISU Games, we look forward to helping to educate and be a resource for future host cities, and the winter sports industry, to take action to Save Winter."

Other venues have also taken steps to implement best practices - for example Clarkson’s Cheel Arena in Potsdam, the site of the Lake Placid 2023 FISU Games’ men’s ice hockey pre-medal competitions, which will be using an electric Zamboni to prepare the ice sheet.

The building’s 2019 remodel improved efficiency in ice-making and sustainable refrigeration.

As the event approaches and tickets are sold, spectators, volunteers and athletes will be encouraged to bring their own water bottles, with bulk water dispensers replacing single-use plastics in lounges and dining areas, as well as in public spaces.

Organisers will request that vendors provide sustainably sourced items such as re-usable hot cups and re-usable water bottles, as merchandise.

The FISU Winter University Games is the world’s largest international winter multi-sport event for collegiate athletes aged 17 to 25.

The 11-day Lake Placid 2023 FISU Winter University Games is expected to attract as many as 1,500 athletes from more than 50 countries and 600 universities, competing in 12 winter sports and 86 medal events.

Besides Lake Placid, events will be spread throughout the Adirondack region, including Saranac Lake, North Creek, Wilmington, Canton and Potsdam.

The FISU World Conference, set to be held during the first week of the Lake Placid 2023 FISU Games, will feature speakers such as Bill McKibben, author, activist and environmentalist.

The list will also feature athlete-advocates and leading environmental researchers and authors from universities around the world.

These experts will speak on a wide range of topics themed on the intersection of climate change and winter sports including alternative energy, farming, forestry, food activism, the science of ice and snow and diversity in the outdoors.

Other educational programmes are expected to include the Save Winter Film Festival, Save Winter Podcast, and outreach in regional elementary schools.

"The Lake Placid 2023 FISU Games are a perfect opportunity to model the change we hope to see in large-scale sporting events," said Karlan Jessen, Lake Placid 2023 FISU Games head of sustainability and legacy.

"Our efforts will set a new standard for future FISU events and demonstrate our commitment that Together We Can - Save Winter."