The action was part of the Rio Open Green platform

Rio Open, presented by Claro, the biggest event in South America and the only ATP event in Brazil, is – from now on – a carbon neutral event, receiving the recognition of the UN. Being an initiative from ENGIE, the largest private energy company in Brazil, working in generation, commercialization and transmission of electric energy, gas transportation and energy solutions, the emissions of more than 400 ton of CO2 generated by the event, during the seventh edition, which took place between February 15^th and 23^rd, 2020, were compensated with carbon credits. This effort, which is part of the sustainability platform of the event, Rio Open Green, was credited with an UN (United Nations) certificate in recognition for the work done, especially because it was proactive and had a significant impact to the environment.

“Rio Open is not only committed to the city of Rio de Janeiro, but also with the local community. This commitment is present in the support of social initiatives, which brings education and healthcare for more than 500 children and teenagers. It is also present when talking about jobs created, not to mention businesses related to the event that brought to the city about R$ 130 million this year. Now is the time to extend our commitment to the environment issue, with the initiative of neutralizing the carbon emission, which was recognized by the UN. Rio Open is now a carbon neutral event, and is aligned with the desire of the community, as people demand more and more that organizations care about social and environmental issues”, said Márcia Casz, who is the General Manager of the event.

“This unprecedented partnership between ENGIE and Rio Open contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). ENGIE intends to accelerate the transition to a carbon neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more sustainable solutions, combining performance with a positive impact on people and the planet. The partnership with Rio Open follows this purpose and is considerably relevant, both for the size and impact of the event, as well as for the visibility it gives to the SDGs”, adds Maurício Bähr, CEO of ENGIE in Brazil.

The neutralization was made through carbon credits given to Usina Hidrelétrica Jirau – a Special Purpose Company – which shareholders are: ENGIE (40%), Eletrobras Eletrosul (20%), Eletrobras Chesf (20%) e Mizha Participações S.A. (20%). To reach the amount that had to be neutralized, in the end of the 2020 edition of the event, a balance of C02 emissions was made based on the GHG protocol. All sources related to the tournament itself were included, from set up to tear down. In addition, all emissions from transportation of athletes and technical staff were considered, as well as additional energy consumption by Jockey Club Brasileiro during the tournament.

By neutralizing emissions, the tournament avoids releasing the equivalent of a 4km radius circle of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. This is the same amount as to a globe with the length of 36 soccer fields.

The process was led by Rio Open, in partnership with ENGIE, and it had RINA as the auditing company.

During the 2020 edition, Rio Open Green platform was based on 3 pillars for the management of waste: reduction, recycling, and reuse. Some examples of reduction: reusable glasses that were available in bars and 100% eco bags given to public during their shopping experience in the official store, La Boutique. For recycling some actions were implemented, such as the destination of organic waste for composting and recyclable waste was given to licensed cooperatives. Also, there were specific collectors for organic waste and cooking oil, and recyclable items such as paper and bathroom supplies and training for the teams, for example, were used.

Regarding the reuse of materials, Rio Open produced, during the tournament, bracelets made with the racket strings used during the matches. The bracelets were on sale at the official store, La Boutique. The event management also let cooperatives have all used canvas; bottle caps were exchanged for wheelchairs; balls, rackets and leftover uniforms were donated for social projects. For these reasons, Rio Open increased its social engagement and made everyone involved in the event aware of each other's responsibility for a more sustainable future.

The complete program – Rio Open Green 2020 – can be reached at www.rioopen.com

Rio Open is the first ATP World Tour 500 that takes place in Brazil and is part of the exclusive group of 13 events named ATP 500. It is also one of the 22 most important of the ATP calendar and the only one in the country. This makes it the largest annual sport event in Rio de Janeiro and one of the few ATP 500 tournaments in the world, played in clay courts.

Since 2014, Rio Open, the largest tennis tournament in South America, brought 50.000 people each year to the Jockey Club Brasileiro. The public had the opportunity to see Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer, Pablo Cuevas, Dominic Thiem, Diego Schwartzman, Laslo Djere and Cristian Garin as tournament champions.  The fans could also enjoy the presence of some other great athletes  - Kei Nishikori, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, John Isner, Marin Cilic, Gael Monfils, Fabio Fognini and other “stars” who emerge in the international scenario such as Felix Auger Aliassime, Carlos Alcaraz, Casper Ruud, Thiago Monteiro, Thiago Wild, among others.

The tournament is broadcasted live for 170 countries, bringing positive image of Rio de Janeiro to the world. Among visitors of the event, 30% come from other cities. The event is responsible for bringing R$ 130 million to the economy of the state, generating jobs, income and transforming people´s lives. As an example, this transformation is present for the more than 600 children from social projects supported by the event.

Rio Open also remains steady regarding social platforms, by supporting projects (since the first edition), all related to tennis: Instituto Futuro Bom, Tennis in Lagoa, Tennis School Fabiano de Paula and Arremessar para o Futuro are partners in the competition, besides NERO - Núcleo Esportivo Rio Open. The event organizes the Winners Tournament, a competition focused on children and teenagers who attend these projects. Members of these institutions also get free tickets to come and watch Rio Open matches and some of them are part of the Ball Kids team, the famous "boleiros". Since the 2017 edition, about 15 teenagers have been selected to work behind the scenes of the event.

ABOUT RIO OPEN 2020

Rio Open has Claro as the presenting sponsor and counts with Santander as a sponsor as well. Also there are: Peugeot, HDI Seguros, Mubadala, Emirates, FedEx and Rolex, shell, ENGIE, Petra, Motorola, Qualicorp, SEM, Booking.com, Ortobom, Microsoft, Melitta, Prosegur, Qualicorp, EMS, Booking.com, Ortobom, Microsoft, Melitta, Prosegur, Zetaflex, Shopping Leblon, CopaGaz, Orthopride, Greenpeople, Sextante e Sherwin Williams. Fila is the official supplier of all sporting goods and Head is the responsible for giving all the tennis balls. SporTV is the official TV, and broadcasts to Brazil all matches from the central court in HD system and to more than 170 countries through ATP media.

The event has the support of “Secretaria Especial do Esporte do MInistério da Cidadania”, using the Federal Law for the Sports Incentive and has the “Lei Estadual de ICMS” from the state government through the “Secretaria de Estado de Esporte, Lazer e Juventude”.

Rio Open is produced by IMM and managed by ICT.

ABOUT IMM

IMM is a Brazilian company, which produces events in the sports, entertainment, ticketing, cashless and communications areas. The company focus on unique entertainment platforms, taking place periodically, and provides memorable experiences to consumers and brands. in the sports segment, IMM produces large events that are present in the country calendar, like Rio Open (largest tennis event in South America), UFC, besides Go Cup, largest teenage soccer tournament in Latin America and PBR, the major bull riding league in the world. IMM has already produced Volvo Ocean Race, a sale race around the world, and a golf platform of events, validated by the PGA. During 3 seasons, IMM produced the NBA Global Games in Brazil.

Regarding the entertainment segment, IMM is part of a joint venture with Cirque du Soleil, being responsible for all tours in Brazil. Since 2015, the company counts with an exclusive department named Family Entertainment, which focus are the greatest Broadway plays such as My Fair Lady, Singing in the Rain, Little Mermaid, and Sunset Boulevard. IMM is also the promoter of Taste of São Paulo, a gastronomic event, and of São Paulo Fashion Week, the most famous fashion event in Brazil.

IMM owns, also, a ticketing platform, named TUDUS. As a continuous work, IMM is responsible for the sales of online and off-line tickets for all events produced internally and works also for third parties. This area holds important projects regarding tickets sales like NBA, Paul McCartney concerts, Banco do Brazil Circuit (beach volleyball), Rio Open and more than 30 theatre sales tickets in Rio and São Paulo. In the technology segment, IMM set up a partnership agreement with Intellitix to offer “cashless payment” services for the Brazilian market.

Most recently IMM launched IMM Creative Marketing, a brand-new communication and marketing business unit focused on development of creative strategies for all IMM products and for other brands as well.

ABOUT ENGIE

ENGIE is the largest private energy company in Brazil, operating in the generation, commercialization and transmission of electricity, gas transportation and energy solutions. With its own installed capacity of 10,211MW in 61 plants, which represents about 6% of the country's capacity, the company has almost 90% of its installed capacity in Brazil originated from renewable sources, with low GHG emissions, such as hydroelectric plants, wind energy, solar and also biomass.

After acquiring TAG, ENGIE is now also the owner of the biggest natural gas transportation network in the country, with 4,500 km, which crosses 10 states and 191 towns.

In addition, the Group operates in Brazil in the commercialization of energy in the free market and it is among the largest companies in the segment of distributed photovoltaic generation. The company also has a complete portfolio of integrated solutions responsible for cost reduction and the improvement of  infrastructures for companies and cities, such as energy efficiency, energy monitoring and management, management of electricity supply contracts, public lightening, HVAC systems, telecommunications, security and urban mobility. ENGIE has 2,750 employees and had R$ 10.5 billion in revenues in Brazil during 2019.

ENGIE is a world reference company in energy and low carbon services. Our purpose (“raison d’être”) is to focus in the acceleration of the transition to a carbon neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more sustainable solutions, combining performance with a positive impact on people and the planet. ENGIE relies on its key activities (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to our customers. Counting on our 170,000 employees, customers, partners, and stakeholders, we are a community of Creative Builders, committed to more harmonious progress ecery day.

2019 revenue: 60.1 billion euros. The Group is traded on the Paris and Brussels stock exchanges (ENGI) and represented on the main financial indexes (CAC 40, DJ Euro Stoxx 50, Euronext 100, FTSE Eurotop 100, MSCI Europe) and non-financial indices (DJSI World, DJSI Europe and Euronext Vigeo Eiris - World 120, Eurozone 120, Europe 120, France 20, CAC 40 Governance).

Additional information

www.rioopen.com

www.facebook.com/rioopenoficial

www.twitter.com/RioOpenOficial

www.instagram.com/rioopenoficial

www.engie.com.br

Rio Open PR contacts

Diana Gabanyi - diana@gabanyis.com | + 55 11 98162- 3818

Camila Coimbra - camila.coimbra@mediaguide.com.br | + 55 21 3724-1623 l 97394-6785