Decathlon

About

As climate change accelerates and coastal ecosystems face unprecedented stress, the future of sand sports hangs in the balance. Once synonymous with leisure and performance, these open-air disciplines now demand new strategies to adapt, endure, and inspire.

In response to this challenge, a visionary team of students imagines a transformative future for the global sand sports community — where innovation, ecology, and technology converge to protect both the planet and the game.

By 2050, Decathlon has emerged as a global pioneer in eco-conscious sports innovation, leading a movement toward climate-resilient sand sports infrastructure, circular product design, and responsible tourism.

Key Developments in This Future Scenario

• Eco-Designed Equipment: All sand sports gear is produced from recycled or biodegradable materials, with modular parts to enable repair and reuse, extending product life.
• Smart Training with AI: Athletes train in virtual sand environments using data-driven simulations that improve performance while reducing ecological impact.
• Climate-Adaptive Fields: Beaches are protected by AI-monitored barriers and natural dune regeneration systems that shield sports zones from erosion and sea level rise.
• Sustainable Tourism Integration: Sand sports events now promote low-carbon travel, environmental education, and coastal stewardship.

Athletes have become environmental ambassadors, using their platform to champion sustainable lifestyles. Through partnerships with local organizations, they co-create events that raise awareness, regenerate coastlines, and build resilient communities.

By acting now, Decathlon — alongside athletes, designers, and citizens — can ensure that future generations continue to experience the thrill of sand sports on vibrant, living beaches, not just in memory.

Through this workshop conceptualized and facilitated by Nicole Loeser, titled “NEWS 2030 – Sustainable Innovations”, students from engineering were encouraged to push the boundaries of their imagination and critical thinking to design sustainable solutions addressing the growing demand for — and gradual depletion of — one of the world’s most essential resources: sand.