8th WORLD CONFERENCE ON SPORT AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Mr Matt Dolf,
Assistant Director, AISTS
8th World Conference on Sport and the Environment
International Cooperation and Development Department
Report
Mr Dolf described the AISTS, its mission to develop knowledge in sport, its initiatives in sustainability
(including developing the SSET in partnership with VANOC, having research projects with sports
federations and events).
The rationale for the project: In a survey of sports organisations, only a small percentage had
a written policy on environmental sustainability, and many stated that events were the highest
priority.
Topic: Leadership and Management
by Mr Sean Maw (Speed Skating Canada Board Member)
– Speed Skating Canada’s Sustainability Initiative
SSC is the national organisation that administers the sport of speed skating in Canada.
Mr Maw discussed how SSC created a Sustainability Committee and a Sustainability Policy. It started
with him teaming up with Kristina Groves (Canadian speed skater) to create a Green Plan, which
led to an analysis of the footprint of the SSC, and this was the springboard to having the rest of the
Board undertake this initiative. An ad-hoc Sustainability Committee was created, with the mandate
to formulate policies, programmes, and procedures that embed sustainability within SSC.
Challenge: Mr Maw has found that it has been diffi cult to get started during the peak period
preparing for the 2010 Winter Games (both staff and athletes). As a result, the Core and Advisory
Committees have started slowly.
Achievements:
1. SSC has investigated the broad use of video teleconferencing to reduce both the environmental
footprint of the organisations and travelling and meeting expenses.
2. It will also be offering athletes options for taking leadership roles in the Clean Air Programme
that connects with 2010 host communities.
3. The key point about stakeholder input: The Core Sustainability Committee comprises only
seven or eight people, and Ms Groves and other members cannot commit full time. Many others
wanted to help, so an Advisory Committee was created and it receives all the materials about
what SSC is doing. Advisory members do not need to respond if they don’t want to, but it has
done a great deal of work. This dual committee model has resulted in a great deal of input from
many stakeholders.
Key message:
1. State a commitment
2. Get started
3. Check progress.
Key questions:
1. Who in the organisation is the representative?
2. What is the plan for the future?
3. How will it be rolled out?
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