GreenMascot

GREENMASCOT - INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT

🌿 The International GreenMascot Student Contest is here! 🏆

What if your idea could become the GreenMascot of the entire Black Sea Basin region?

We are inviting student teams from Bulgaria, Türkiye, Romania and Greece to combine creativity, environmental action and sport in the International GreenMascot Student Contest.
The challenge is simple:
🌊 Choose a threatened species, plant or ecosystem of the Black Sea Basin that you want to protect.
🎨 Create your own original Green Mascot to represent the cause.
🏃 Develop a concrete environmental action that can be promoted in and through sport.
🎥 Tell your story in a video of up to 3 minutes and prepare a short presentation.
Each team consists of 2-3 students and one teacher/mentor, with 40 days to develop its idea.
📅 The application period opens on 1 October 2026 and runs until 9 November 2026.
And then comes the international stage. 🌍

Following the national pre-selection, two teams from each participating country - eight teams in total - will advance to the International GreenMascot Contest Final in Naoussa, Greece, where they will present their ideas to the Selection Committee and the public.

🏆 One winning idea will become the GreenMascot of the entire Black Sea Basin region, and its environmental action will be encouraged by local authorities and taken forward through GreenMascot pilot sports events.

This is more than a mascot competition.
It is a chance for young people to show how sport can become a force for environmental change.

💚 Create your mascot. Choose your cause. Turn sport into action.
Join the International GreenMascot Student Contest!

🏔️ GreenMascot AR Experience Is Now Live!

We are excited to announce that the GreenMascot Augmented Reality experience is officially ready to explore!

Developed as part of the GreenMascot project, the AR experience “IT’S NOT A GAME, IT’S A RACE. JOIN THE RACE!” was created to engage young athletes, sports fans and local communities in a more interactive way, encouraging them to think about sustainability, environmental responsibility and the future of the Black Sea region. The project application specifically envisages AR as an educational tool designed for young people and distributed across the partner countries.
The experience connects four real sports and outdoor venues across the GreenMascot partner countries:

Türkiye - Ziya Berhan Kılıç Indoor Sports Hall, Çorlu
Bulgaria - Primorski Swimming Complex, South Beach, Varna
Romania - Corbu Football Field, Constanța
Greece - Vermio Mountain, 3–5 Pigadia Ski Centre, Naoussa

Together, these four locations turn the GreenMascot message into a cross-border digital journey where sport, technology and environmental awareness meet. This reflects the wider GreenMascot approach of using the communicative power of sport to encourage more environmentally friendly behaviour across the Black Sea Basin.
And now it is your turn to experience it.

👉 Explore the GreenMascot AR experience:
ar.greenmascot.eu

Point your phone, discover the venues and join the race towards a greener future! 🌿📱🏊⚽

The GreenMascot partnership brings together organisations from Bulgaria, Türkiye, Greece and Romania.

The GreenMascot Toolkit is ready! 🌱🏅

We are happy to share that the GreenMascot “RACE TO SUSTAINABILITY” Toolkit has now been fully completed!

The Toolkit is one of the key outputs of the GreenMascot project and has been developed as a practical resource for local authorities, sports organisations, schools and other stakeholders wishing to promote more sustainable and environmentally friendly behaviour through sport. It provides a step-by-step approach for planning and implementing green initiatives and awareness-raising activities.

It brings together ideas, methods and practical solutions aimed at reducing the environmental footprint of sport, increasing environmental awareness and engaging local communities. GreenMascot places a strong emphasis on the power of sport as a communication tool that can help inspire behavioural change and support environmental action.

The next step is to put the Toolkit into practice through training activities, sports events and awareness-raising campaigns in the partner countries, allowing the developed solutions to be tested and applied in real-life settings.

We are ready for the next stage of the race to sustainability! 🌍💚

🏃‍♀️🌿 Good Practice from Türkiye #2 – European Week of Sport 🇪🇺🇹🇷

As part of the GreenMascot – BSB01069 project, our Turkish partner identified the European Week of Sport activities implemented in Çorlu as a good practice demonstrating how sport can be used to promote environmental awareness, sustainable behaviours and active community participation.

Organised as part of the European Week of Sport, the activities brought together children, young people, athletes and local citizens through different forms of physical activity and community-based events. Alongside encouraging an active lifestyle, the initiative provided an opportunity to connect sport with messages on environmental responsibility and sustainability.

The initiative focused on:
✅ promoting physical activity and active lifestyles
✅ using sport as a tool to raise environmental and climate awareness
✅ bringing different groups of the local community together through inclusive activities
✅ encouraging sustainable and environmentally responsible behaviours

Through sports events and community activities, participants were encouraged to see sport not only as a means of improving physical well-being, but also as a platform for learning, awareness-raising and positive behavioural change.

As a result:
🌱 Environmental awareness was promoted through sport.
🏃 Sport became a tool for engaging the local community around sustainability.
🤝 Community participation and social interaction were strengthened.
💚 Sustainable and environmentally responsible behaviours were encouraged.

This good practice reflects one of the core principles of GreenMascot: sporting activities and events can create opportunities to inspire communities, promote sustainability and contribute to a more environmentally conscious sporting culture.

The RACE TO SUSTAINABILITY 🌱🏃‍♀️

Toolkit-ul „The RACE TO SUSTAINABILITY”, realizat în cadrul proiectului GreenMascot, este aproape gata! 🎉

Împreună cu partenerii proiectului am colaborat pentru a dezvolta un instrument care să sprijine organizarea activităților sportive într-un mod mai prietenos cu mediul înconjurător. 🌍

Mare Nostrum a contribuit la dezvoltarea capitolelor „Organizarea evenimentelor sportive sustenabile cu un impact redus asupra mediului” și „Organizarea campaniilor de conștientizare publică prin sport”.

În aceste două capitole veți găsi strategii și recomandări pentru organizarea unor evenimente sportive și campanii de conștientizare cu un impact redus asupra mediului, transformând sportul într-un aliat al sustenabilității. ♻️🏅

✅ Proiectul GreenMascot este finanțat de Programul Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme și cofinanțat de Uniunea Europeană.

🏃🌿 Good Practice from Türkiye #1 – Exploring Nature in the Dark 🌙🌍

As part of the GreenMascot – BSB01069 project, our Turkish partner identified “Exploring Nature in the Dark” as a good practice combining outdoor physical activity, environmental awareness and community resilience.

Implemented in Çorlu, the initiative brought local citizens together to explore nature through guided night walks while raising awareness about the climate crisis, natural disasters and the importance of being prepared for challenging environmental conditions.

The initiative focused on:
✅ exploring nature through walking and outdoor physical activity
✅ increasing awareness of climate change and natural disasters
✅ strengthening knowledge of the local natural environment and biodiversity
✅ encouraging environmentally responsible behaviour and community preparedness

Through experiencing nature under unusual conditions, participants had the opportunity to better understand their surroundings, develop environmental awareness and reflect on how communities can become more resilient to climate-related challenges.

As a result:
🌿 Citizens strengthened their connection with nature and local biodiversity.
🌍 Awareness of climate change and environmental risks was increased.
🥾 Outdoor physical activity became a tool for environmental learning.
💚 Community awareness and responsible behaviour towards nature were encouraged.

This good practice demonstrates one of the key ideas promoted by GreenMascot: sport and physical activity can go beyond recreation and become powerful tools for environmental education, climate awareness and more resilient communities.

🇬🇷🏀🌿 GreenMascot και 13ο Τουρνουά Μπάσκετ: Όταν ο Αθλητισμός Συναντά την Περιβαλλοντική Υπευθυνότητα
♻️ Από τη Θεωρία στην Πράξη: Μείωση Αποβλήτων μέσω Επαναχρησιμοποίησης

Το GreenMascot σε συνεργασία με την οργανωτική ομάδα του Τουρνουά Μπάσκετ που πραγματοποιήθηκε στο Άλσος Αγίου Νικολάου και τον Σύλλογο Φίλοι Καρναβαλιού Νάουσας έδωσε ξανά το παρόν προχωρώντας σε μία ακόμα δράση προβολής του προγράμματος και μείωσης του περιβαλλοντικού αποτυπώματος μιας αγαπημένης και πετυχημένης αθλητικής διοργάνωσης του τόπου μας.

Με μία διακριτική παρουσία, περάσαμε από τη θεωρία στην πράξη και διασφαλίσαμε πως από τα προημιτελικά μέχρι και την ολοκλήρωση του 13ου Τουρνουά Μπάσκετ κάθε μπουκάλι που χρησιμοποιήθηκε από τους αθλητές δεν θα καταλήξει στα απορρίμματα, αλλά θα αποτελέσει την πρώτη ύλη στην οποία ο Σύλλογος Φίλοι Καρναβαλιού Νάουσας θα δώσει ξανά ζωή, αξιοποιώντας την δημιουργικά σε μελλοντική του εκδήλωση.

🌳🏃 Το Άλσος Αγίου Νικολάου: Ένα Πρότυπο Συνύπαρξης Περιβάλλοντος και Αθλητισμού

Το Άλσος Αγίου Νικολάου αποτελεί ένα εξαιρετικό παράδειγμα της αρμονικής συνύπαρξης του φυσικού περιβάλλοντος με τον αθλητισμό. Στον μοναδικό αυτό χώρο αναψυχής και άθλησης, έκτασης περίπου 60 στρεμμάτων, φιλοξενούνται γήπεδα μπάσκετ, beach volley και τένις, ενώ σε άμεση γειτνίαση λειτουργούν γήπεδο ποδοσφαίρου και κολυμβητήριο με δεξαμενή ολυμπιακών διαστάσεων. Η ανάπτυξη αυτών των αθλητικών υποδομών έχει πραγματοποιηθεί με απόλυτο σεβασμό στο φυσικό περιβάλλον, χωρίς να αλλοιώνεται ο ιδιαίτερος χαρακτήρας του άλσους. Αντίθετα, ο αθλητισμός λειτουργεί ως γέφυρα που φέρνει τον άνθρωπο πιο κοντά στη φύση, προσφέροντας στους αθλητές και τους επισκέπτες την ευκαιρία να αθληθούν δίπλα στα νερά του ποταμού και κάτω από τη σκιά των αιωνόβιων πλατανιών. Έτσι, το φυσικό περιβάλλον δεν αποτελεί απλώς το σκηνικό των αθλητικών δραστηριοτήτων, αλλά καθίσταται αναπόσπαστο μέρος της εμπειρίας, καλλιεργώντας αισθήματα εκτίμησης, σεβασμού και αγάπης προς αυτό.

🌱🔋 Μία από τις Πιο «Πράσινες» Αθλητικές Διοργανώσεις της Περιοχής

Δεν είναι τυχαίο ότι το Τουρνουά Μπάσκετ που φιλοξενείται στο Άλσος Αγίου Νικολάου αποτελεί διαχρονικά μία από τις πλέον «πράσινες» αθλητικές διοργανώσεις της περιοχής. Η διεξαγωγή του σε έναν υπαίθριο φυσικό χώρο υψηλής περιβαλλοντικής αξίας μειώνει εγγενώς το ενεργειακό του αποτύπωμα, καθώς οι αγώνες πραγματοποιούνται κατά κύριο λόγο κατά τη διάρκεια της ημέρας, χωρίς να απαιτείται η ενεργοβόρα ψύξη που συνεπάγεται η λειτουργία ενός κλειστού γηπέδου, ενώ και οι ανάγκες φωτισμού παραμένουν περιορισμένες. Όποτε αυτές προκύπτουν, καλύπτονται από σύγχρονα φωτιστικά σώματα τεχνολογίας LED υψηλής ενεργειακής απόδοσης και χαμηλής κατανάλωσης.

Παράλληλα, οι ομάδες που συμμετέχουν στο τουρνουά υιοθετούν στην πράξη μια λογική βιωσιμότητας, επαναχρησιμοποιώντας, στο μέτρο του δυνατού, τον αγωνιστικό τους ρουχισμό και μέρος του εξοπλισμού τους από χρονιά σε χρονιά, περιορίζοντας έτσι την κατανάλωση πόρων και τη δημιουργία αποβλήτων. Σημαντική είναι επίσης η συνεργασία με το Alsos Nature Fun Park, η οποία διασφαλίζει την ορθή διαχείριση των απορριμμάτων μέσω της συλλογής και διαλογής τους σε κάδους οργανικών αποβλήτων (πράσινοι), ανακύκλωσης συσκευασιών (μπλε) και γυαλιού (γαλάζιοι).

Μέσα σε αυτό το ήδη ιδιαίτερα θετικό περιβαλλοντικό πλαίσιο, η παρουσία του GreenMascot ήρθε να ενισχύσει ακόμη περισσότερο τον βιώσιμο χαρακτήρα της διοργάνωσης. Μέσω της συνεργασίας με την οργανωτική ομάδα του τουρνουά και τον Σύλλογο Φίλοι Καρναβαλιού Νάουσας, τα πλαστικά μπουκάλια που χρησιμοποιήθηκαν από τους αθλητές συλλέχθηκαν ξεχωριστά ώστε να μην καταλήξουν ούτε στα κοινά απορρίμματα ούτε στο ρεύμα της ανακύκλωσης, αλλά να αξιοποιηθούν εκ νέου ως πρώτη ύλη για δημιουργικές κατασκευές και μελλοντικές δράσεις του συλλόγου. Με τον τρόπο αυτό, η διοργάνωση δεν περιορίστηκε μόνο στη σωστή διαχείριση των απορριμμάτων της, αλλά προχώρησε ένα βήμα παραπέρα, μετατρέποντας υλικά που συνήθως θα απορρίπτονταν σε χρήσιμους πόρους με νέα αξία και νέο σκοπό. Η συγκεκριμένη πρωτοβουλία συμπλήρωσε τις ήδη υφιστάμενες καλές πρακτικές του τουρνουά και απέδειξε στην πράξη πως ο αθλητισμός μπορεί να αποτελέσει όχημα για ακόμη πιο υπεύθυνες και καινοτόμες περιβαλλοντικές δράσεις.

🤝🌍 Σχετικά με το Έργο GreenMascot

Ο Δήμος Ηρωϊκής Πόλης Νάουσας συμμετέχει στο εταιρικό σχήμα του έργου από κοινού με τον Youth Sport Club Varna (Βουλγαρία) ως Επικεφαλής Εταίρο, τον Çorlu Municipality Youth and Sports Club (Τουρκία) και την περιβαλλοντική οργάνωση Ecological NGO Mare Nostrum (Ρουμανία).

Στο πλαίσιο του Προγράμματος Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin 2021-2027, το έργο GreenMascot – Strengthening BSB Local Capacities for Environmental Awareness in and through Sport (BSB01069) στοχεύει στην ενίσχυση των δυνατοτήτων των τοπικών αρχών για την προώθηση της περιβαλλοντικής ευαισθητοποίησης και της υιοθέτησης βιώσιμων πρακτικών μέσω του αθλητισμού. Με τη συγχρηματοδότηση του Προγράμματος Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin 2021-2027, η πρωτοβουλία θα αναπτύξει εκπαιδευτικά εργαλεία, καινοτόμες δράσεις ευαισθητοποίησης, πιλοτικές αθλητικές εκδηλώσεις και διακρατικές συνεργασίες που θα συμβάλουν στην ενίσχυση της περιβαλλοντικής υπευθυνότητας πολιτών, σχολείων, αθλητικών οργανισμών και τοπικών κοινωνιών στην περιοχή της Μαύρης Θάλασσας. 💶 Η χρηματοδοτική συνδρομή του Προγράμματος ανέρχεται σε 449.492,40 ευρώ.

🇬🇧🏀🌿 GreenMascot Environmental Action at the 13th Saint Nicholas Grove Basketball Tournament
♻️ Turning Theory into Practice: Reducing Waste through Reuse

GreenMascot, in cooperation with the organizing team of the Basketball Tournament held at the Saint Nicholas Grove (Alsos Agiou Nikolaou) and the Friends of Naoussa Carnival Association, once again took an active role by implementing another initiative aimed at promoting the project and reducing the environmental footprint of one of our region’s most beloved and successful sporting events.

With a discreet yet meaningful presence, we moved from theory to practice and ensured that, from the quarterfinals through to the completion of the 13th Basketball Tournament, every plastic bottle used by the athletes would not end up as waste. Instead, it would serve as raw material to be given a second life by the Friends of Naoussa Carnival Association through its creative reuse in future events and activities.

🌳🏃 Saint Nicholas Grove: A Model of Harmony Between Nature and Sport

The Saint Nicholas Grove is an outstanding example of the harmonious coexistence of nature and sport. This unique recreational and sporting area, covering approximately 60 stremmas (6 hectares), hosts basketball, beach volleyball and tennis courts, while a football field and an Olympic-size swimming pool operate in its immediate vicinity. These sports facilities have been developed with full respect for the natural environment, preserving the distinctive character of the grove. Rather than competing with nature, sport acts as a bridge that brings people closer to it, offering athletes and visitors the opportunity to exercise alongside the river and beneath the shade of centuries-old plane trees. In this way, the natural environment becomes not merely the backdrop of sporting activities but an integral part of the overall experience.

🌱🔋 One of the Region’s Greenest Sporting Events

It is no coincidence that the Basketball Tournament hosted at the Saint Nicholas Grove has long been regarded as one of the region’s greenest sporting events. Its outdoor setting within an area of significant environmental value inherently reduces its energy footprint, as most matches take place during daylight hours, eliminating the need for energy-intensive cooling systems typically required in indoor arenas. Lighting requirements are also limited and, whenever necessary, are met through modern high-efficiency LED technology with reduced energy consumption.

At the same time, participating teams embrace sustainable practices by reusing, whenever possible, their sportswear and part of their equipment from year to year, thereby reducing resource consumption and waste generation. Equally important is the partnership with Alsos Nature Fun Park, which ensures proper waste management through the collection and separation of waste into dedicated bins for organic waste (green bins), recyclable materials (blue bins) and glass (light-blue bins).

Within this already environmentally conscious framework, GreenMascot further strengthened the sustainability profile of the tournament. Through cooperation with the tournament organizers and the Friends of Naoussa Carnival Association, the plastic bottles used by athletes were collected separately so that they would neither end up in general waste nor be sent directly for recycling, but instead be reused as raw material for creative constructions and future activities of the association. In this way, the event went beyond responsible waste management by transforming materials that would normally be discarded into valuable resources with a new purpose and added value. This initiative complemented the tournament’s existing environmental practices and demonstrated in practice how sport can serve as a vehicle for even more responsible and innovative environmental actions.

🤝🌍 About the GreenMascot Project

The Municipality of the Heroic City of Naoussa participates in the project partnership alongside Youth Sport Club Varna (Bulgaria) as Lead Partner, Çorlu Municipality Youth and Sports Club (Türkiye), and the environmental organization Ecological NGO Mare Nostrum (Romania).

Under the framework of the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme 2021-2027, the project GreenMascot – Strengthening BSB Local Capacities for Environmental Awareness in and through Sport (BSB01069) aims to strengthen local authorities' capacities to promote environmental awareness and the adoption of sustainable practices through sport. Co-funded by the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme 2021-2027, the initiative will develop educational tools, innovative awareness-raising actions, pilot sporting events and transnational cooperation activities that will contribute to enhancing environmental responsibility among citizens, schools, sports organizations and local communities across the Black Sea region. 💶 The Programme's financial support amounts to €449,492.40.