Chris Boardman, the Olympic champion cyclist, visited an eco-friendly football club on Sunday 21 July as part of a seven-day cycle ride from Manchester to Paris, which he has undertaken to raise awareness of the effects of climate change on the planet, and to bring a vision of sustainability he believes is needed at the Paris Olympics.

The Olympian, who won gold for Great Britain in the men's individual pursuit cycling at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona and was named CBE, began the challenge called ‘Pedal for Paris’ on 16 July. On Sunday, he visited Lewes FC with record-breaking cyclist Mark Beaumont and professional footballer David Wheeler to raise awareness of the impact of climate change on sport.

This visit is in line with a number of measures the club has taken to combat climate change, including, for example, a garden within the ground for players, staff and fans to maintain and grow, as well as the installation of 180 solar panels on the roof of the South Stand and the sale of second-hand goods.

Beaumont, who joined the trip from London to Lewes, said he has seen the effects of climate change as he travels the world, "I think I've seen more of the world than most. I've seen with my own eyes what's happening in the Pacific islands with sea level change. As a cyclist, it's very important to get athletes with a profile out there to talk about wilderness, because we all love to cycle in the countryside and spend time in nature, but nature is changing."

Meanwhile, Wheeler, a sustainability advocate with the Professional Footballers' Association, said that getting athletes to talk about climate change “will make a big difference”. ‘People listen to athletes and sportspeople as much as they listen to politicians and scientists, perhaps more so.

Boardman and his appointment as CBE

Boardman's fight for sustainable transport and care for the planet paid off when he was appointed National Active Travel Commissioner in June 2022 by the Transport Secretary. Prior to this, Chris was Greater Manchester's Transport Commissioner and Greater Manchester's first Cycling and Walking Commissioner.

On this long journey the cyclist explains, "I started this journey many years ago when my daughter, Agatha, wanted to cycle to the park. Even though it was only 500 metres away, I felt I had to say no, because I wasn't sure I could keep her safe. It seemed wrong, so I decided to do something about it.

"Almost 20 years later, the cause has never been more relevant, so it has been an easy decision to champion it, especially as I know that most parents would also love their children to have transport independence. Aggie is 19 now and my hope, my intention, is that when she has children and is asked the question, she can say ‘yes, we can go to the park by bike.'"