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Everything your organisation needs before applying

Requirements, policies, the strategic framework, assessment method, governance, results and the application process, organised in the same order as the competition guide.

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Participation and eligibility

A framework for fairness and equal opportunity

These requirements set minimum eligibility according to the activity, organisation size and institutional readiness.

General requirements

The applicant must belong to an approved eligible category.
The applicant must be officially registered and operate lawfully.
The applicant must be active when applying.
The applicant must have operated for at least three years, unless a category-specific period applies.
Have a clear management and operating structure.
The applicant must comply with laws and requirements governing sports activities.
The applicant must have no substantiated serious safety, legal or regulatory violations.

eligible categories

Major and community sports clubs, corporate and institutional clubs, and private sports academies.

Size classification indicators

Employees, beneficiaries, activity volume, branches, operating scope and service types.

Sector-specific requirements

Earth Guards Foundation may add technical criteria or requirements for each category according to its activities and assessment needs.

Governing policies

Reliable evidence, orderly verification and full confidentiality

The policies define acceptable evidence, verification, exclusion grounds and limits on data use.

Evidence types

Reports, internal policies, records, plans, performance indicators, statistics, certificates, photos, supporting materials and web links.

File format

Clear, readable digital files, organised and dated wherever possible.

Reliability

Authentic, verifiable data; further supporting documents may be requested.

Unpublished evidence

Accepted when it can be verified internally and demonstrates actual implementation.

Exclusion grounds

When is an application excluded?

An incomplete form or missing essential information.
Misleading or inaccurate information.
Failure to meet participation or eligibility requirements.
Submission after the application deadline.
Substantiated serious legal, environmental or regulatory violations.

Confidentiality and data use

Data stays within the assessment process

Earth Guards Foundation protects all submitted data and documents and uses them only for technical assessment, performance analysis and reporting.

Data is not shared beyond assessment, adjudication and approved reporting without the applicant organisation prior, explicit consent.

Certificates and accreditations

They are not mandatory in every case, but they can strengthen evidence of implementation and organisational maturity.

Strategic framework and performance method

From Sustainable Development Goals to measurable practices

The framework links 17 global goals with six connected pillars, taking account of category differences and organisation size.

Social responsibility

Supporting social wellbeing, improving quality of life and building more resilient communities.

20points

Workplace and institutional performance

Building a fair, inclusive and sustainable workplace while strengthening institutional governance.

20points

Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Developing infrastructure and advancing innovation and technological transformation.

15points

Resource efficiency and recycling

Using resources efficiently and promoting sustainable production and consumption.

15points

Pollution prevention

Reducing environmental impact and improving environmental sustainability.

15points

Sustainable partnerships

Strengthening collaboration and multi-stakeholder partnerships to advance sustainable development.

15points

Strategic pillar

Practice

Reference

Added value

Score

Score calculation

100 points across six pillars

Practices are the basic unit of assessment; the Sustainable Development Goals are not scored separately. Scores reflect fulfilment of each practice and the available supporting evidence.

Social responsibility20Workplace and institutional performance20Industry, innovation and infrastructure15Resource efficiency and recycling15Pollution prevention15Sustainable partnerships15Total100

Governance and adjudication

Complementary expertise working independently and impartially

The assessment and adjudication committee includes experts in sustainability, management and sport, alongside Earth Guards Foundation representatives.

Committee composition

A mix of technical and institutional expertise suited to the sports sector.

Independence

Apply approved criteria consistently without discrimination or undue influence.

Confidentiality

Data, documents and results are disclosed only under approved procedures.

Conflicts of interest

All members disclose potential conflicts and recuse themselves from assessing affected organisations.

Results and recognition

The highest total, balanced performance and reliable evidence

Winners are determined by the total score across all six pillars, taking balanced performance into account.

Primary ranking

The highest total score after evidence has been verified.

Ties

Evidence quality, institutional impact and the durability of practices.

Withholding an award

An award may be withheld in full or in part if minimum quality or assessment requirements are not met.

Gold ShieldHighest score

Certificates of ExcellenceLeading positions

Annual reportExemplary practices

Shield emblemSubject to the rules

Application and participation

A direct official form with no account required

The organisation submits its details, practices or initiatives, supporting evidence and declaration of accuracy through the online form.

Organisation details

Category, founding year, staff, branches, headquarters and online presence.

Contact person

Name, role, phone number and email address.

Practices and evidence

Pillar, description, start date, scope, beneficiaries, results and evidence.

Declaration and submission

Declaration of accuracy, applicant signature and organisation seal, followed by a reference number.

Official competition launchDate set by the Foundation

Applications openFor 30 days from the announcement

Applications close30 days after applications open

Application review and screening15 days after applications close

Verification30 days after application review

Adjudication15 committee working days

Results announcement and Shield presentationThree months after the competition launch

Official participation form

Submit your organisation details, practices and evidence

No account is required. Keep the reference number sent after submission to track your application.

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