WCBS and bloomUp Continue Sustainability Journey at the UMB World Cup 3-Cushion, Lier

The World Confederation of Billiards Sports (WCBS), in collaboration with global sustainability consultancy bloomUp, will continue its pioneering sustainability journey at the upcoming UMB World Cup 3-Cushion, taking place from 31 August to 6 September 2026 in Lier, Belgium. The event marks the second of four flagship sustainability assessments being conducted across the cue sports ecosystem as part of the WCBS–bloomUp Sustainability Project.

Following the successful delivery of the first sustainability maturity assessment at the 2026 Heyball World Cup in Brisbane, the UMB World Cup 3-Cushion, Lier represents the next step in evaluating how major cue sports events can strengthen their environmental, social and economic impact through internationally recognised sustainability practices.

During the event, bloomUp’s sustainability experts will conduct an on-site assessment using the Sustainability Maturity Matrix—a framework aligned with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards and increasingly adopted across the international sports movement. The assessment will examine key areas including governance, resource management, stakeholder engagement, accessibility, community impact and operational sustainability.

Organised by the Union Mondiale de Billard (UMB), the UMB World Cup 3-Cushion, Lier is one of the sport’s premier international competitions, bringing together the world’s leading athletes and showcasing the highest level of carom billiards. By integrating sustainability evaluation into one of its flagship events, UMB continues to demonstrate its commitment to supporting the long-term development of responsible and future-focused sport.

Insights gathered from Lier will be combined with findings from the remaining assessments across the WCBS family to establish the first comprehensive sustainability benchmark for cue sports. These learnings will directly contribute to the development of WCBS’ Sustainability Strategy and Operational Plan, creating practical guidance for future event organisers and member federations.

“The assessment in Lier builds on the strong foundation established earlier this year in Brisbane. Each event provides valuable insights that help us understand where cue sports are today and, more importantly, where we can improve tomorrow. Together with our member federations and bloomUp, we are creating a roadmap that will enable sustainable growth across our entire sport.” – Farouk Barki, President, WCBS & UMB

“Sustainability is a continuous process of learning and improvement. Every assessment strengthens the evidence base that will help WCBS and its member federations make informed decisions, share best practices and deliver measurable impact. We look forward to working alongside UMB and the local organising team in Lier.” – Geert Hendriks, Co-Founder, bloomUp

The WCBS–bloomUp Sustainability Project is the first initiative of its kind in cue sports. Through assessments across events organised by WCBS and its member federations, the project is establishing a common framework to measure sustainability performance, identify opportunities for improvement and support the future delivery of more responsible international events.