MANUAL SPORT ENVIRONMENT

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Earth itself on a global sc ale. Changes w hich onc e occ urred over decades or
centuries are now taking place w ithin a few years and are often c hanging the
fundamental elements of the planet's life-s upport sys tems . As a result, it is necess ary
to adopt a completely new approach and establish a coherent relationship w ith our
env ironment. When practis ing sport, our approac h has to take this as pec t into
cons ideration.
Agenda 21 recognizes that the commitment and involvement of all social groups,
community-bas ed organiz ations and individuals is critical to the effective
implementation of the objectives, policies and mechanisms agreed to by
gov ernments w ith regard to its different programmatic areas. Environmental issues
are best handled w hen they inv olv e the participation of all c oncerned citiz ens.
In 1999 the IOC produced the Oly mpic Movement’s Agenda 21
(http://www .oly mpic.org/uk/organis ation/commiss ions/environment/agenda_uk.asp),
w hich w as adopt ed by t he Thir d IOC Wor ld Conferenc e on Sport and t he
Environment on October 23, 1999, in Rio de Janeiro, Braz il:
"1. The Olympic Movem ent’s Agenda 21 is an instrument setting out the general
actions needed in the fi elds in which the Olympic Movem ent can bring an effecti ve
contribution to sustainable development.
2. All the m embers of the Olympic
Movement, and all participants in s port
and enterprises ass ociated with sport,
should be invited to comply with the
recomm endati ons of the present Agenda
21 to the best of their ability and with due
respect for their cultures, traditions and
beliefs.
3. All members of the Olym pic Movem ent
should be urged to integrate s ustainable
development into their policies and
acti vities, bas ed on the above Agenda 21;
they shoul d als o encourage all indivi duals
that are link ed to them to behave in s uc h
a way as to ensure that their s porting
acti vities and their lifestyles play a part i n
sustainable developm ent. " …
The sports community has an important role to play. Several lev els or res ponsibility
may be considered.
Individual responsibilities
Inherent responsibility as citizens to live in harmony w ith their s urroundings and
ens ure that the needs of future generations w ill be met and responsibility to c omply
w ith ec ological criteria. In their daily lives , all citizens have the opportunity to change