ICSSPE News
No.41
June 2004		  
    

V World Sport and Environment Conference
Tamara Devine, ICSSPE, Germany


From December 1st to 3rd, 2003, the V World Sport and Environment Conference was held in Turin, Italy. This event was hosted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the Torino 2006 Organising Committee. The following eight steps were declared as being key to ensuring that the Olympic Movement and the world sports community conducts sport and leisure activites in an environmentally sustainable manner, with particular emphasis on the establishment, maintenance and nurturing of 'Partnerships for Sustainable Development‘.
1. Sport as a Tool for Sustainable Development and Solidarity
  • Tool kits should be created for National Olympic Committees (NOC) in developing countries to assist them in defining opportunities to use sport to promote sustainable development, and in developing appropriate action plans to address the particular priorities and challenges of their country.
  • IOC Sport and Environment Commission through the Olympic Solidarity programmes should assist NOC’s in the formulation and implementation of sport and environment programs.
  • IOC together with its partners, should develop and produce guidelines for feasible projects at the national level.
  • Sport should be used in addressing other social and economic priorities such as the fight against poverty and the spread of HIV/AIDS and in the promotion of social, human well-being and gender equity.
2. Spreading the Word: The Role of Athletes
Maximize the effective role of athletes and athletes‘ organisations in education and awareness, by promoting and communicating the importance of sustainablility and protection of the environment. Athletes should be invited and encouraged as role models to take part in communcating green messages to the community.

3. Sustainable Sports Events: Collaboration at Community Level
  • Effective partnerships between organisers, both local and national authorities and civil society, from the outset, is essential for the environmental success of any sport event.
  • The role of athletes as role models in establishing such collaboration should be developed to promote a safe and healthy environment.
4. Sustainable Design for Venues
  • Respect for the environment in venue design is an integral part of the sustainable development legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
  • Sustainable development must embrace the interaction of all members of the local community with their improved environment.
5. After the Event: The Environmental Legacy

Olympic environmental legacy has been improved a great deal from Games to Games, including high level sport events (eg Commonwealth Games and FIFA World Cup)
  • Organising committees must build strong relationships with all stakeholders (including the communtiy, local authorities and the private sector)
  • Transer of knowledge must take place from city to city and remain active beyond the Games.
6. Marketing Parnerships for Sport and Environment

As the environment has become a very important element in society and in the Olympic portfolio, the Olympic Games can offer a unique opportunity to showcase environmentally-friendly projects and raise sponsors environmental profile.
  • It is critical to ensure that service providers and sponsors endorse the environmental policy and fully support it from the early stages of planning to avoid problems later.
  • Close communication between the organiser (rights holder) and the sponsors is essential in order to make the most of opportunities to build a strong environmental program and to profile more sustainable products and services.
7. Measurement and Monitoring of the Sustainability of Sports Events
  • The sustainability accounting and reporting process of sport events represents a big challenge for both the IOC and the Host cities.
  • Integrating environmental, social and economic information streams into management accounts and decision-making processes is fundamental for a positive legacy of every Olympic Games.
  • In this context, the further development of the IOC’s OGGI Project is relevant to the overall sustainability of sporting events.
8. Greening of the Products and Services associated with Sports Events

The strongest results are achieved when sustainability is emphasised and promoted throughout the entire 'product chain‘ of supplies, products and services that are associated with a sports event and facility.
  • Organisers must clearly define and then communicate, both internally and externally, their sustainability objectives and priorities. Appropriate guidance and decision-making systems should then be put in place to lead all partners (notably suppliers of all products and services) towards a strong performance in these areas.
  • The green procurement policies and tools must be disseminated to all public authorities and other partners.



http://www.icsspe.org/portal/bulletin-June2004.htm