Certify Your Event
Explore the process, levels, and benefits of becoming certified with Council for Responsible Sport.
What is Event Certification?
The Council for Responsible Sport's Event Certification evaluates and verifies how sustainability and social responsibility commitments are put into action at a specific event.
It assesses the event's real-time delivery, documented results, and measurable impact within a defined planning and event timeframe.
Built with the industry's leading voices
The Responsible Sport Standard was developed through a rigorous multi-stakeholder process involving dozens of organizations and more than 100 industry experts from across the global sports ecosystem.
Four Levels, One Standard
Every certified event and organization is scored against the same best practices. The level they reach shows how far they've put those practices into action.
Our Framework
The Framework is where our principles become practice. It organizes them into five pillars, each shaping the specific criteria that become our Standards.
Planning & Communications
Engage stakeholders and promote responsible practices throughout your event.
Procurement
Source responsibly and support local economies through thoughtful vendor selection.
Resource Management
Otimize resource use and minimize environmental impact through emissions measurement, water conservation, and waste management
Access & Equity
Create inclusive, accessible events that promote social justice for all participants.
Community Legacy
Prioritize community legacy through social responsibility, environmental stewardship, economic impact, collaborative partnerships, and charitable engagement.
How to get certified
Council for Responsible Sport will guide you through all the steps, from application to certification. The process typically takes between two and twelve months, depending on the event's planning timeline, readiness, and responsiveness throughout the certification process.
Enroll & Access
Choose your certification type and gain immediate access to ReScore platform.
Plan & Implement
Track progress, implement sustainability practices, and gather supporting evidence throughout your event.
Submit for Review
Upload all documentation within 60 days after your event or reporting period concludes.
Turn your event into a force for good
Get independent verification of your sustainability efforts and join more than 150 certified events leading the responsible-event movement.
Questions
Find answers about Council for Responsible Sport's certification process and requirements
Most events complete the certification process in two to twelve months. The timeline depends on how quickly you submit documentation and schedule your on-site verification visit. Organizations may take slightly longer due to the scope of their operations.
Your certification fee covers platform access to ReScore, documentation review by our team, and the certification decision. On-site verification travel expenses are paid separately by the applicant. The fee does not include consulting services or implementation support.
Yes. Events of any size can pursue certification if they meet the minimum standards. Grassroots and community events often find the certification process manageable and rewarding. We encourage smaller events to apply and join our network of certified events.
If you don't achieve the minimum points for certification, you'll receive detailed feedback on your submission. You can reapply after implementing recommended improvements. Many events use this feedback to strengthen their sustainability practices for the next cycle.
Annual recertification is required to maintain your status. You'll submit updated documentation each year showing your continued progress. On-site verification visits occur every two to three years depending on your event type and location.
Certification helps events measure their impacts, improve their practices, and demonstrate responsible event production. Organizations ready to make a broader, long-term climate commitment can also explore the United Nations’ Sports for Climate Action Framework. The Council supports the framework’s goals and encourages organizations to learn more.
Learn more about Sports for Climate Action.
Still have questions?
Our team is ready to help you take the next step toward certification and join the responsible sport movement today.
