7th World Conference on Sport and the Environment - International ...

Report
Catalyst for all stakeholders
The IOC’s role is also that of a catalyst, an engine that drives the Olympic Movement and its partners to
be environmentally friendly.
For this we have developed specific guidelines that all Organising Committees of the Olympic Games
have to follow from the candidature phase through the seven-year preparatory cycle.
The IOC has introduced the Olympic Global Impact (OGI) project, which has around 150 precise criteria
to measure the impact of the Games, not only from an environmental point of view, but also from social
and economic ones. For the environment, the OGI requires Organising Committees to assess 34 distinct
factors over time. Twenty of those, including air quality, land usage trends and greenhouse gas emissions,
have to be assessed in detail with clear instructions regarding the measurement procedures and
calculation methods to be used.
The IOC’s concern, however, goes beyond the Games, and provides environmental stewardship for the
whole sports movement. In 2005, we produced the IOC Guide on Sport, Environment and Sustainable
Development, which provides concrete actions and programmes that others in the sport community can
implement.
The IOC has also encouraged International Federations and National Olympic Committees to develop
their own environmental guidelines.
The Olympic Movement’s worldwide TOP Partners are also using the Games in Beijing as an opportunity
to introduce many environmentally responsible practices and products.
<strong>World</strong> <strong>Conference</strong> in Beijing
We are fully aware that despite all our efforts, even more has to be done. Sport can and must contribute
to an even higher degree in the fight against global warming and climate change.
This conference in Beijing is an excellent platform on which to explore new ideas. I am particularly glad
to see that we have managed to stage a highly professional forum across various cultures and different
sectors. We are fully aware that the challenges that lay ahead of us cannot be resolved in isolation but
only through joint activities. I therefore welcome in particular the TOP partners and government and non–
governmental organisations that are participating for the first time in our conference, as well as members
from university and academic circles.
May I appeal to you to set the bar very high and to challenge yourselves with new, innovative and daring
proposals!
I would like to thank all those who have made this <strong>Conference</strong> possible: the local authorities, BOCOG, the
Sport and Environment Commission and all of you who will contribute to making this a successful event.
Thank you.
<strong>7th</strong> <strong>World</strong> <strong>Conference</strong> on Sport and the Environment
International Cooperation and Development Dept.
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