In the system of human values health traditionally occupies one of the leading positions. Nowadays healthy lifestyle is widely promoted in the media and ranks among the social assets mostly strived for. Healthy life is standardly associated with sports, as it allows maintaining body and mind in mint condition. Since times immemorial people have held mass sportive events, the concentration and essence of which are the Olympic Games. Embodying the ideas of community of spirit, prizing the values of excellence, respect and friendship, Olympics serve as a means for uniting people of the world with the objective to build a better world through sport.
As the event implies accumulation of huge amounts of people and requires using overwhelming amounts of energy, water, food and other supplies, especially nowadays when countries compete in making the opening and closing of Olympics as spectacular as possible, a question emerges about the environmental compliance of the Games — if they exert a destructive influence on the surroundings, or if they serve as an educative measure providing insight into the concepts of sustainability for millions of people worldwide. Before I undertook some reading on the topic, I used to consider the Olympic Games a spectacular occasion which despite its international importance brings more destruction than benefit to the environment. However, having got acquainted with the sources available, I realized that the Olympic environmental issue is far more developed than I had previously imagined.
In order to maintain and promote the principle of sustainability during the Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee directs its activities into two spheres: a) running awareness-raising and educational activities about the importance of the environment and sustainable development in sport; and b) encouraging Olympic Games which respect the environment and promote sustainable development. Tom Roper in his account of preparation for 2012 Olympics in London enlists the following strategies to be used while planning the major sport event of the planet:
- waste minimization;
- water efficiency and conservation;
- energy efficiency;
- air, land, and water pollution reduction;
- biodiversity conservation;
- social and economic development measures.” (Roper, 2006, p. 2)
It appears that already in 1994 at the Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway, attempts were made to bring the games in compliance with the ideas of sustainability; however, due to certain imperfections in construction those games cannot be fully named ‘green’:
“Although the bobsleigh track was buried in order to avoid altering the landscape and located away from people’s homes to prevent problems caused by ammonia, which is used for refrigeration and gives off a putrid smell, the construction of the ski jumping ramps did damage the environment.” (The Olympic Museum, 2009, p. 20)
But the first Olympics officially recognized as genuinely ‘green’ took place much later, in 2000 Sydney, and raising the bar high settled a standard for approach to Olympic arrangements for years onwards.
The environmental benefits emerging as a result of preparing for the Olympic Games in compliance with sustainability standards cannot be overestimated. 2000 Sydney witnessed the renovation of Sydney Olympic Park, the biggest urban renewal project in Australia at the time, integrated waste management, unprecedented use of public transport and the development of an energy policy (The Olympic Museum, 2009, p. 20). 2008 Beijing undertook ambitious environmental projects including improving its air quality and reducing its air pollution, introducing new wastewater treatment plants, solid waste processing facilities, increased forestation and green belt areas, and an improved public transportation fleet (United Nations Environmental Program, 2008). London in its preparation for the 2012 event claims to cover several areas of importance: minimizing greenhouse gas emissions, from construction to after the Games; encouraging the development of new waste processing infrastructure in east London and promoting changes in public attitudes and behaviour; fostering an understanding of the importance of biodiversity in supporting healthy lifestyles; promoting inclusion and attitude change, especially towards disability, celebrating the diversity of the people of the UK; creating new employment, training and business opportunities, contributing to the social and economic regeneration of communities; inspiring people across the country to take up sport and develop active, healthy and sustainable lifestyles (London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, 2008, p.6). Attempts have been made, though feeble, to carry the principles of Olympic sustainable building over to urban construction (Cooper & Symes, 2008, p. 264).
It should be emphasized that sustainability cannot be achieved by efforts of governments alone. During the environmental campaigns such ways of influencing public opinion and attitude are used as involving superstars in the popularization process and enrolling popular musicians and performers on international tours to offset emissions from concerts, travel, and production facilities (Roper, 2006, p.5). The Olympic Museum opens doors to public and provides comprehensive information on environmental issues of the Games. By means of joint effort and cooperation between governments, companies and nations, the idea of environmental friendliness of the Olympics acquires a more realistic view and opens perspectives on restoring and reintroducing the natural splendor of the planet.
References
Cooper, I., & Symes, M. (Eds.). (2008). Sustainable Urban Development 4: Rethinking Professionalism in Europe. New York, NY: Routlege.
London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. (2008). London 2012: Towards a One Planet 2012: Sustainability Plan Update. Web.
Roper, T. (2006). Producing Environmentally Sustainable Olympic Games and ‘Greening’ Major Public Events. Global Urban Development, 2 (1). Web.
The Olympic Museum. (2009). Vancouver 2010: Objective Sustainable Development. Web.
United Nations Environmental Program. (2008). Beijing 2008 Olympic Games: Environmental Review. Web.