Green is Universal: At the Olympics, Green is Gold

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At the Olympics, Green is Gold

Posted at 08:32 AM on November 07, 2007 comments (3)

water bottles What if, wondered organizers of the world championships of Olympic-style boxing staged this fall in Chicago, each fighter on check-in was given his own water bottle to fill time and again, however many times he wanted, with some of that good ol' city tap water straight from Lake Michigan?

Wouldn't that cut down on the mountain of plastic water bottles that inevitably now clutters every major sports event? Would that idea fly?

In planning for the boxing event, one of the first Olympic-style sports championships to be staged in the United States in recent years, officials -- in seeking to enhance Chicago's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics -- from the outset placed a high priority on "green" initiatives.

It was, of course, the right thing to do.

But it was also the smart thing to do. The International Olympic Committee has long emphasized environmental awareness. Indeed, without "green" sensitivities, any Olympic bid -- indeed, any Olympic project of any sort -- is a dead-bang loser.

Environmental protection is formally considered one of the "pillars" upon which the Olympic movement rests, IOC President Jacques Rogge reminded his audience in delivering a speech this fall in Beijing, site of the 2008 Summer Games. IOC sensitivities are so keen that the electronic delivery of Rogge's speech to reporters beforehand contained this reminder: "Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail."

Under IOC pressure, Chinese authorities are scrambling to implement a number of far-reaching environmental initiatives in advance of the Aug. 8, 2008, opening ceremony, including sharp reductions in factory and auto emissions.

London's winning bid for the 2012 Summer Games rested on plans for the construction of the largest new public park in Europe in 150 years. Spectators will in effect have to take public transit to the London Games since parking will be extraordinary limited and available then primarily to fans with physical disabilities. Officials are even aiming to find a more carbon-neutral flame to be kept alight in the cauldron for the month of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The IOC will pick the 2016 site in 2009. Also in the mix, along with Chicago: Tokyo; Madrid; Rio de Janeiro; Prague; Baku, Azerbaijian; and Doha, capital of the Persian Gulf emirate of Qatar.

All of the "official" cars in use at the Chicago boxing championships were Toyota hybrids. Baxter, the healthcare company headquartered in suburban Deerfield, Ill., donated "carbon credits" designed to offset 8,000 tons of carbon dioxide -- making the championships perhaps one of the first such events to be carbon neutral. All program materials were printed on recycled paper using soy-based inks.

The water-bottle idea ultimately didn't work -- this time. Too many complexities, organizers judged. But it wasn't for lack of trying, or brainstorming -- and a recognition that, in spheres of Olympic influence. green is gold.

"We wanted to ensure that the boxing championships were as green as they could be," said Bill Scherr, chairman of World Sport Chicago, the private committee overseeing the boxing championships, adding, "Whether it is taking public transport, using hybrid cars for delegations to working with our hotel partners to go green, a lot of little things can make a huge difference."

Alan Abrahamson
http://www.NBCOlympics.com

comments

Posted by: Bob Ahrend on November 7, 2007 11:54 AM

I have been doing this for years. My old home was as environmentally correct based on the knowledge for that time. We ate organic and natural foods. We drove VW's. In fact, our children where raised in a VW MicroWagon.

it is nice the rest of the world is realizing we have major problems with the environment.

Posted by: Ty McCarthy on November 7, 2007 02:05 PM

After reading this and watching CNN's Planet in Peril Series, I wonder about how Green the Beijing Games will be.
(It had a focus on China's Industiral and river pollution and illegal trade of endangered animals)
I hope that green efforts for the 2008 Games will not be a front to the world. I hope the Games will spark change.
And I hope that of any city hoping to get the Olympics. That Green efforts won't just be limited to Olympic sites, parks and venues. But across the board a re-evaluation of how to do things. (i.e. build roads, street lights...)
The world will be watching this summer not only to see GREAT sports, but also if "red" China can be "green" China.
See you in Beijing

Posted by: Clarke Bitter on November 8, 2007 08:21 AM

I am the CEO of a company which distributes a new environmentally friendly take-out container and tableware company in Canada. We procure a product which has been made in China for 15 years.Our manufacturer was the proud supplier to the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Our product is called Compostech, we have over 140 different shapes and sizes available. Compostech replaces polystyrene in the foodservice industry with material made from sugarcane pulp and bamboo. Our products compost in 30 days, meet or exceed all USFDA standards and are made from one of the worlds most sustainable materials. In addition to the products being "green", the factory is also. Our factory does not have a smoke stack or drain, all water used in the process is filtered and reused.
As our products become more widespread, landfills across North America will benefit from reduced capacity needs and carbon emissions should reduce with the reduction of styrofoam production, the second largest producer of greenhouse gases of any industrial product (aluminum smelting being the largest). It is interesting that as China is continually assailed for their environmental issues, only a handful of people in North America acctually will inconvenience themselves to protect the Earth. Excuses such as economic costs are still the norm, and until the end user consumer puts real pressure on the companies they patronize to change, this will continue to be the norm here. We as consumers hold the balance of power and should start asserting it in our choices of products at the check-out counter. China already has, they use very little styrofoam for packaging, we should consider doing the same.
Clarke Bitter
President and CEO
P&C Compostech Inc.