Sports and the Environment

by: Andy Angelos

The Olympic Games are a creation of man, but many events are reliant on the Earth’s natural resources.  Monitoring the relationship between sport and the environment has become imperative to the longevity of certain events.  Imagine slalom skiing without mountains or snow.  Or maybe try rowing sans the abundance of water.  Both have been attempted – as demonstrated by entertaining clips on YouTube – but lose their Olympic magic when nature is removed. 

To supervise the relationship between environment and large-scale sporting events, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has partnered with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for over ten years.   Together, the organizations examine the impact of Olympic Games on surrounding environments – both natural and manmade.  For example, UNEP is currently collaborating with Vancouver 2010 planners to reduce environmental impact in the following areas:

·       Biodiversity and Habitat

·       Energy and Climate Change

·       Air Quality

·       Water Quality and Conservation

·       Waste Management

With assistance from the IOC and UNEP, the Beijing Organizing Committee focused on similar environmental categories and helped introduce nearly 4,000 “clean” buses operating on compressed natural gas.  The public transit network also received three additional lines to accommodate the cities booming population. 

The improvements to Beijing represent an important function of UNEP – leverage Olympic investment to build a foundation for a sustainable future.  By working with UNEP and the IOC, the 2016 Olympic Games could provide a tremendous opportunity to ensure our city’s longevity throughout the resource conscious 21^st century.  Efficient buses, expanded rail, solar powered apartments, wind harvesting from Lake Michigan…

What area of the environment would you like to see improved in Chicago if the Olympic Games visit in 2016?”