MANUAL SPORT ENVIRONMENT

7
reinforc ed this trend by creating a Sport and Environment Co mmiss ion, w hich I have
the privilege to chair, together w ith a spec ial sec tion in the administration respons ible
for the implementation and follow -up of all IOC environmental actions . Through a
genuine aw areness-building proc ess and the s etting up of an appropriate w orking
structure, the IOC has given its elf the basis for the definition and implementation of
its environmental policies.
Such is the framew ork in w hich this Manual on Sport and the Env ironment w as
prepared, for use by all the me mbers of the Oly mpic Movement, from the largest and
most developed entities to the s malles t organiz ations, all the w ay dow n to the
individual level. It is des igned for a public w hich is not necessarily equipped w ith a
spec ific expertise in env ironmental issues, and aims to provide basic tools to identify
problem areas, establis h priorities and find appropriate responses to issues
stemming from the relations hip betw een s port and the env ironment. This being said,
by no means do the recommendations included in this Manual purport to be the
panacea. Cultural, historic al, geographic al, politic al and ec onomic s pecificities all
hav e to be considered, as they impinge s ignificantly on the nature and extent of any
env ironmental meas ure w hich may be undertaken.
The contribution of the Oly mpic Mov ement and of its numerous volunteers must be
complementary, the basic respons ibility to protect the env ironment lying w ith
gov ernments. Nevertheless , w e are firmly convinc ed that muc h can be done w ith
limited means . Each step taken to harmoniz e the development of sport w ith its
env ironment can, in the long term, make a real difference to the cause of
sustainability.
Dr. Pál Schmitt
Chairman
IOC Sport and
Environment Commission