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

Report
Energy
Minimizing the demand of energy is a general task. As we know producing energy is one of the deciding
factors for the emission of carbon dioxide. Therefore all chances to use renewable energy should be
taken into account.
In carrying out every kind of major championships, the need of energy for traffic is mostly the biggest
environmental factor. Therefore its reduction is a main request. Not without reason there are reflections on
measures to compensate this impact.
The production of snow is the specific point of skisport. With the warming climate snowmaking has
become more and more important. It is the fact that competition courses often cannot be prepared
without man made snow. The technical aspects of this matter improve rapidly with the objective of higher
efficiency in critical temperatures but for a better economical and ecological result, too. FIS is gathering
knowledge of the progress and experiences in this matter globally and distributing the results to the
acting persons continuously.
Water
<strong>World</strong> Ski Championships are carried out in regions with high resources of water that normally are
sufficient for snow making, too. Nevertheless the water regime obliges using it economically to avoid its
shortage in other consumption or in sensitive creeks and so on.
Waste Management
Waste management is to be brought up to date. In any case avoiding waste and recycling have priority to
clearing away.
All over the area of the sports venues and the accompanying events, a net of waste collecting facilities
with sufficiently big trashcans for seperating the waste should be set up.
Waste management is a good possibility to involve young schoolboys and -girls. FIS has best
experiences thereof in Scandinavia, Switzerland and Germany where the stands – “Waste Points” – had
been occupied with specially trained boys and girls acting as “Eco-Guides”. They were all dressed
the same to be easily noticed. The responsible leadership was given to teachers who promoted this
engagement in environmental questions to a larger extent.
It is important to oblige the operators of catering stands to reduce packaging and non-returnable dishes
and glasses.
Clean championships and competitions require caution concerning sewage and sanitary. Therefore the
sewage disposal and the sanitary installations must correspond to the number of spectators and involved
persons during the events.
Traffic
Normally a special department plans and secures trouble-free and eco-friendly traffic with the first goal to
restrict the individual traffic.
Private cars have to be kept outside the venues. Therefore as large as possible parking areas have to be
provided at a long distance from the stadiums as well as the necessary shuttle service for the spectators
from there.
The promotion of railway and bus transportation is very relevant. Good value for the tickets – better
combined tickets including transport and entrance-fee – frequent trains and a close distance from the
station to the venues offer a very comfortable visit to the different competitions.
Communication
The environmental topic should to be promoted in a friendly and pleasant manner in order to win people’s
acceptance and help. Good communication may more and more improve the understanding of the
sport’s interest to have a good balance with the environment and sustainable development. Every chance
to arouse the understanding should be used above all in the cooperation with the media. Not least, the
speakers in the stadiums can fill up breaks with interesting information on this matter.
Auditing and Certification
The foundation “pro natura – pro ski” in Liechtenstein elaborated a system for “Auditing of Ski Areas”
in order to improve the environmental situation in such regions. FIS supports this foundation and
collaborates with representatives of nature protection organisations and authorities in the board. The
foundation will offer an award for environment friendly managing of ski resorts.
Organizers of major ski competitions aim to be certificated following ISO 14001.
<strong>7th</strong> <strong>World</strong> <strong>Conference</strong> on Sport and the Environment
International Cooperation and Development Dept.
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