Benelux HackSprint Sparks Sustainable Innovations in Sports
Utrecht, Wednesday, 1 October 2025.
The inaugural Benelux HackSprint, held at KNVB Campus, focused on creating sustainable sports solutions using data and AI, with teams addressing real-world challenges and showcasing innovative prototypes.
The Event’s Core Focus
From September 23 to 25, 2025, the KNVB Campus in Zeist was transformed into a hub of innovation and collaboration, hosting the first-ever Benelux HackSprint. The event was part of the global SAS Hackathon series, bringing together seven teams from the Benelux region to tackle real-world challenges using data and artificial intelligence (AI) [1][2].
Collaboration and Innovation
The HackSprint was an exemplary showcase of interdisciplinary collaboration, with participants ranging from data scientists to tech entrepreneurs and sports professionals. The event’s main focus was on sustainability, as teams explored innovative ways to utilize data and AI to create solutions that could reduce carbon footprints in sports and beyond [2][3].
Key Projects and Outcomes
Among the notable projects was the KNVB Data Intelligence team’s collaboration with Notilyze, aiming to optimize football competition schedules to minimize travel distances, thus reducing CO₂ emissions. This project highlighted the potential of using the SAS Optimization tool to maintain a fair and competitive league while being environmentally conscious [1][3].
Expert Insights and Future Directions
Expert speakers like Phaedra Kortekaas, Managing Director Benelux at SAS, and former footballer Khalid Boulahrouz provided valuable insights on teamwork and the role of technology in sports. The event concluded with a sense of optimism and readiness to integrate these innovations into broader global initiatives, such as the ongoing SAS Hackathon [2][4].