Standing at 85 metres tall and located a 30-minute bike ride from the Danish capital is CopenHill.

The imposing building with a blocky aluminum exterior is a waste-to-energy plant that burns rubbish to generate enough electricity to power and heat tens of thousands of homes across the city.

As well as being able to turn 400,000 tons of Copenhagen’s waste into clean energy, CopenHill is home to a ski slope, a hiking trail and a climbing wall.

Covered with a green material called neveplast, the 10,000-square-metre slooping roof with a 180-degree turn halfway down provides a unique skiing facility.

A maximum of 100 skiers can take to the dry slope at a time while visitors can also take on the hiking trials featuring 7,000 bushes and 300 trees.

The plant, designed by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels, was opened in 2017 and was central to Copenhagen’s ambitions to be the world’s first carbon-neutral capital city by 2025.

There are doubts over whether Copenhagen will meet its net zero targets but it’s clean and green outlook make it an attractive destination for tourists.

Copenhagen, which has a population of nearly 1.4 million, has also been ranked as the world’s happiest city thanks to its vibrancy and cycling culture.

It’s perhaps no surprise why its tourism organisation is called Wonderful Copenhagen and why it has become the host of so many International Federations’ flagship events.

"We have our own airport, the infrastructure, the hotels and we are a known brand," said Lars Vallentin Christensen, senior manager for events at Wonderful Copenhagen.

Copenhagen is currently formulating a five-year strategy with the aim of targeting major sporting events that "fit the city’s DNA".

Central to that plan will be sustainability which is a common and prominent theme throughout all competitions held in the city.

Next year’s International Surfing Association Stand Up Paddling (SUP) World Championships is set to be staged on the capital’s canals with plans for the "Copenhagen Sustainability Street" where organisations will be invited to share sustainable solutions.

While Paris might be facing challenges to make the Seine pollution-free for next year’s Olympics and Paralympics, Copenhagen’s canals are known for their cleanliness, making them swimmable.

"We like to do things a little bit differently in Copenhagen," said Nanna Vildershøj, event manager for Surf and SUP Denmark.

"It’s good to rethink and use the facilities that you have in a new creative way.

"I think that sustainability is a hugely important subject that you need to factor into all the events that you do.

"We use the big arenas that we have and the city’s roads and water.

"Instead of thinking that stand-up paddle must be on open water, we see that we can use the canals in our capital."

Sport Event Denmark chief executive Lars Lundov insisted that sustainability was "one of the main focuses" within sporting event management.

"We have over the past years invited event managers to share and motivate each other through networking activities," said Lundov.

"We see a great importance of sharing ideas and practical experiences and that is why we also have created a sustainability event guide for everyone to use.

"You cannot stress enough how important a sustainable approach to staging events is."

Since getting her first taste of being part of the organisation of major sporting events in Denmark, Vildershøj has been hooked ever since as she has held various roles.

Vildershøj was hotel and accreditation manager at the 2018 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship, team services coordinator at the 2020 UEFA European Football Championship and was responsible for coordinating the departure of teams and staff following last year’s Grand Départ of the Tour de France staged in Denmark.

"It’s amazing that such a small city can host such big events," said Vildershøj.

"We just have a really good cooperation between the National Federations, the host city and Sport Event Denmark.

"We use each other’s experience and work together instead of working against each other.

"We are all part of the hosting of the event and that’s no matter where it is in Denmark."

It’s a three-pronged attack on the sporting events scene that appears to be working with Copenhagen set to play host to several major tournaments over the coming years.

Last week saw the city stage the Badminton World Federation World Championships for a record-extending fifth time and is already setting its sights on sealing the hosting rights for the 2030 edition.

It was fantastic spectacle boosted by a bumper Danish crowd that left the Royal Arena rocking with their passion for the sport.

"Copenhagen has been more and more successful in hosting events, and I think the public have been more and more interested in watching them," added Vildershøj.

"Their eyes have been opened to big sporting events taking place in Copenhagen."

Copenhagen is due to stage the 2025 International Basketball Federation 3x3 Europe Cup and the 2026 World Athletics Road Running Championships.

It is also hoping to form part of a Danish bid for the International Cycling Union World Tour and 2029 Road Cycling World Championships.

"It is my ambition that we can offer sporting and cultural events every year to Copenhageners and our visitors," said Lord Mayor of Copenhagen Sophie Hæstorp Andersen.

"Events that can bring us together.

"It is crucial that the big events in Copenhagen also involve Copenhageners and offer a positive experience for everyone."

There is one thing hosting an event but the other is ensuring that it creates long-lasting effects and is truly worth the public money invested into its staging.

Wonderful Copenhagen has established the "Copenhagen Legacy Lab" - a free service that focuses on increases the positive impact from both Congresses and events.

"For Copenhagen Legacy Lab there is a difference between outreach, impact and legacy," said Annika Rømer, lead of Copenhagen Legacy Lab.

"If we start not to make sure that we talk about it in the same way then it will be difficult for the audience to understand what legacy is about and hence the term becomes vague.

"On the other side there is no activity that is too small or big for using event platforms as catalysers for creating positive change supporting a broader purpose. 

"But Copenhagen Legacy Lab’s vision is to create long-term positive impact and potentially leave a legacy behind."

It is clear that Copenhagen has a clear, strategic vision alongside National Federations and Sport Event Denmark when it comes to bidding and delivering sporting events.

Like the CopenHill power plant, the city is on a mission to scale new heights with a green twist that sets it apart from the rest.