From the beginning of a city’s desire to stage an Olympic Games, through to the long-term effects of those Games, environmental protection and, more importantly, sustainability, are prime elements of Games planning and operations.
The Olympic Movement, since the early 1990’s, has progressively taken the environment and sustainability into account throughout the lifecycle of an Olympic Games project, and recognized its importance: the "Green Games" concept is increasingly a reality.
Olympic Games are above all about sport and the athletes, but they can bring several important environmental outcomes if they are planned, managed and conducted in a way which minimizes the adverse environmental impacts and effects. The opportunity of the Games can also be used to provide sustainable environmental legacies, such as rehabilitated and revitalized sites, increased environmental awareness, and improved environmental policies and practices. They can further encourage and facilitate strong environmental actions, technology and product development in a city, country and beyond, through the educational value of good example. It is important to note that these positive legacies can occur whether or not a Bid is successful. For example, a Bid may include the rehabilitation and regeneration of a degraded area of a city for an Olympic Games venue and public open space which goes ahead during the bid and is completed even if the city is not awarded the Games.
These positive outcomes and legacies are being achieved throughout the processes leading to the Games, and through IOC requirements and policies, and actions within the IOC and the Candidate and Organising Committees.
In this section:
OLYMPIC CHARTER
Discover the founding text of the Olympic Movement.
