Chicago Event Management Earns GOLD Organization Certification 2026-2028

Thursday, August 27

Chicago Event Management Earns Gold Organization Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport

Producer of the Bank of America Chicago Distance Series recognized for more than a decade of leadership in environmental stewardship, community investment, and inclusive event design

CHICAGO, IL - Chicago Event Management (CEM), the endurance industry leader behind the Bank of America Chicago Distance Series, has been awarded Gold Organization Certification by the Council for Responsible Sport (CRS), the world’s leading environmental, social and economic sustainability certification program for sports events and organizations. The recognition reflects CEM’s ongoing commitment to operating with purpose and embedding social and environmental responsibility across every aspect of its work.

Gold Organization Certification is awarded to organizations that achieve 75 percent or more of the total best practices outlined in the Council for Responsible Sport’s standards for responsible sport, spanning six areas of impact: planning and communications, procurement, resource management, access and equity, community legacy, and innovation and excellence.

CEM’s relationship with the Council for Responsible Sport dates back to 2010, when the Bank of America Chicago Marathon first received CRS certification, making it one of the earliest major endurance events in the country to pursue independent verification of its social and environmental practices. In the years since, CEM has steadily advanced its work, earning recognition across multiple events in the Chicago Distance Series portfolio, including the Bank of America Chicago 13.1 and the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle.

“This recognition is a reflection of the extraordinary people across our organization and events who have a shared belief that our races can be a force for good in the communities we run through; said Carey Pinkowski, CEO of Chicago Event Management. “It is the result of more than a decade of hard work and dedication. Our team shows up every day committed to leading with purpose and accountability, and our participants, volunteers, vendors, local businesses and community stakeholders have been alongside us every step of the way. This honor belongs to everyone who has been part of this journey.”

The Council for Responsible Sport recognized CEM for the following accomplishments:

• Planning and Communications: CEM is building a foundation for social and environmental responsibility, establishing policies, goals, and accountability that will continue to guide the organization and its event operations into the future. A cornerstone of this work was creating CEM’s first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Statement and Action Plan, ensuring equity and inclusion are woven into our culture, decision-making, and event experience.

• Procurement: Sustainable procurement practices are being advanced by prioritizing responsible purchasing, reducing unnecessary consumption and integrating environmental and social considerations into sourcing decisions.

• Resource Management: Operational emissions are being actively reduced through the introduction of battery storage systems, creative material reuse and close collaboration with event partners to minimize waste and environmental footprint.

• Access & Equity: A stronger commitment to inclusive, accessible events has taken shape by removing barriers to participation and expanding opportunities for underrepresented communities.

• Community Legacy: Lasting positive impacts are being generated for the communities where the events take place. Supporting local economies, collaborating with community partners, advancing charitable initiatives, and creating long-term social value beyond the events.

“Chicago Event Management exemplifies what it looks like when an organization commits to responsible practices not as a one-time effort, but as a fundamental part of how it operates,” said Michelle Sandquist, Certification Director for the Council for Responsible Sport. “The Gold Organization Certification reflects years of meaningful progress across social and environmental impact, and we are proud to recognize CEM’s leadership in the endurance industry.”

CEM joins a select group of organizations worldwide to achieve organizational-level certification from the Council for Responsible Sport, a distinction that recognizes sustained, institution-wide commitment rather than individual event performance. The full list of CRS-certified events and organizations is available at councilforresponsiblesport.org/certified-events.

ABOUT CHICAGO EVENT MANAGEMENT

Chicago Event Management (CEM) is a leader in the endurance industry, best known for its production of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, a member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors. Since its founding in 1996, CEM has worked closely with community partners and leaders in event production to create world-renowned events in the heart of Chicago. Its portfolio includes citywide road races and wellness events that emphasize safety, sustainability, and community impact. To learn more about Chicago Event Management, visit cemevent.com.

The Council for Responsible Sport is proud to announce a new partnership with Headsweats.

The Council for Responsible Sport is proud to announce a new partnership with Headsweats.

Headsweats has long been a leader in performance headwear, trusted by endurance athletes nationwide. The company is also committed to responsible manufacturing, including the use of recycled materials and ongoing efforts to reduce environmental impact.

We’re excited that Headsweats products will be worn by our charity runners and walkers, as well as our on-site verifiers at certified events. This partnership reflects both performance and purpose visible on the course and behind the scenes.

Together, we continue aligning sport with sustainability.

2025 TCS London Marathon becomes first UK marathon to earn evergreen sustainability certification

2025 TCS LONDON MARATHON AWARDED EVERGREEN STATUS IN UK FIRST BY COUNCIL FOR RESPONSIBLE SPORT

• TCS London Marathon first marathon in the UK to be awarded top-tier status

• Award follows Evergreen certification awarded to organiser London Marathon Events in 2025

The Council for Responsible Sport (CRS) announced today (Tuesday 17 February) that the 2025 TCS London Marathon has been awarded its prestigious Evergreen certification – the highest level of achievement possible.

The 2025 TCS London Marathon is the first major event and marathon in the UK to be awarded Evergreen certification by the world’s leading sustainability certification programme dedicated to sports events and organisations. The event achieved 61 out of a maximum potential of 66 credits, surpassing the 55 out of 61 credits the event achieved in 2023 when it was first awarded the Gold standard certification.

The award builds on the event’s 2023 Gold certification, as well as the Evergreen certification for organisers London Marathon Events (LME) last year.

In 2025, LME again used the ReScore app, a cloud-based application for responsible event planning developed by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for CRS. ReScore enabled LME to assess the environmental and social impact of the TCS London Marathon, as well as report, verify, and certify against sustainability standards set by the Council. Specifically, the app offered a tracking and monitoring system, templates, resources, and best practices for transparent, efficient, and sustainable strategies.

The CRS event-level assessment is based on five key areas of social and environmental impact. These are: planning and communications; procurement; resource management; access and equity and community legacy. The ReScore app is used to consistently capture and assess performance across these critical areas.

CRS highlighted the following standout achievements at the 2025 TCS London Marathon:

• Planning and communications: LME’s sustainability strategy addresses key areas of sustainability such as energy, waste, stakeholder engagement, inclusion, accessibility, and communications.

• Procurement: purchasing decisions are guided by LME’s principles of sustainability and social responsibility. Preference is given to suppliers that demonstrate commitments to environmental conservation, ethical practices, and community engagement.

• Resource Management: a comprehensive and well-structured Waste Management Plan to minimise the event’s environmental impact. The plan includes clear objectives and outlines the classification of waste streams, procedures for handling collected materials, plans for the installation of recycling stations, guidance for volunteers, and methods for tracking waste.

• Access and Equity: an Inclusion Advisory Group is a standout initiative that connects directly with community organisations representing underrepresented groups in the event. Additionally, the DEI Playbook serves as a valuable tool to ensure various event teams are engaged in meeting inclusion objectives. Accessibility initiatives were also implemented to address the diverse needs of participants.

• Community Legacy: participants in the 2025 TCS London Marathon raised a world-record breaking total of £87.3 million for charitable causes, bringing the cumulative total raised since the first edition of the London Marathon in 1981 to £1.4 billion.

Patricia Narváez, Evaluator, Council for Responsible Sport, said: “The TCS London Marathon is setting a global benchmark for sustainability in sport and athletics. Initiatives such as Tees for Trees, the use of biofuels, the introduction of water refill stations, and medals made from recycled metals demonstrate impressive innovation. The event’s community legacy is equally meaningful — through projects like the new Green assembly area, the TCS London Marathon is redefining how participants and communities engage with mass sporting events. Its strong commitment to inclusion, celebration of cultural diversity, and collaboration with running crews to enhance accessibility ensures that everyone can be part of this remarkable event.”

Hugh Brasher, CEO of London Marathon Events, said: “We’re incredibly proud that our work has once again been recognised by the Council for Responsible Sport with Evergreen status for the record-breaking 2025 TCS London Marathon. Meaningful change can only happen when we work together, and we remain committed to collaborating with our participants, partners, and stakeholders to drive progress. Our hope is that this achievement inspires others to join us in creating a more equitable, environmentally conscious, and active society.”

Vinay Singhvi, Head of UK & Ireland, TCS, said: "We congratulate London Marathon Events on achieving Evergreen certification from the Council of Responsible Sport for the 2025 TCS London Marathon. We are proud to have partnered with the team on this journey, providing technology and expertise such as our ReScore app to measure, manage, and minimise the event’s overall environmental impact. At TCS, we see sport as a powerful platform to advance sustainability, and this pioneering achievement highlights how emerging technologies are already reshaping marathons into safer, smarter, and more sustainable events. For us, this isn’t just a finish line. It's a powerful signal that we’re entering a new era of sustainable, tech-smart sport and the TCS London Marathon is paving the way for the global running community.”

The full list of events around the globe certified by the CRS can be viewed here. It includes world-leading basketball, track and field, golf, ironman and mass participation running events.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

About the TCS London Marathon

• The 2026 TCS London Marathon will take place on Sunday 26 April 2026.

• The London Marathon was first held on 29 March 1981 and the millionth finisher in the history of the event crossed the line in 2016.

• Since the first London Marathon in 1981, the event has raised £1.4 billion for charity.

• The 2026 TCS London Marathon Official Charity of the Year is Marie Curie.

• London Marathon Events passes its surplus each year through corporate Gift Aid to its parent charity, the London Marathon Foundation (the operating name of The London Marathon Charitable Trust, a registered charity (283813) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England & Wales (01550741), registered office: 190 Great Dover Street, London, SE1 4YB).

• Since 1981, the London Marathon Foundation has awarded more than £114 million to more than 1,750 projects that inspire activity in London and across the UK.

• Find out more about the work of London Marathon Events and the London Marathon Foundation in the new Group Impact Report.

For more information, visit tcslondonmarathon.com.

About TCS

About the Council for Responsible Sport

• The Council for Responsible Sport envisions a world in which responsibly produced sports and events are the standard. Its mission is to provide objective, independent verification of organizers ' social and environmental efforts to positively impact their communities.

• Since 2007, the Council has developed and continually updates the Event Certification standards, which have been adopted by more than 250 events globally. In 2021, it expanded its reach by introducing the Responsible Sport Standard for Organizations. Also, in 2021, the Council partnered with TCS (Tata Consultancy Services), one of the world’s largest digital solutions companies, to digitize the certification process through the development of the ReScore™ App. This collaboration made reporting more efficient, streamlined, and accessible for events of all sizes.