First ever green Olympic Games. Is Paris likely to become a forerunner?

The clock is ticking down to the inauguration of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, and with it, the city’s efforts to fulfill its promise of an ecological revolution are intensifying. The whole world is watching with interest as the French capital pursues an ambitious goal: to hold the first ever green Olympics. The implementation of the International Olympic Committee’s(IOC) 2020 sustainability strategy is becoming a test of sorts for Paris. The city will be judged not only on logistics and organization, but also has a chance to win on environmental issues. Will these aspirations change the face of global sporting events forever?

How is the Paris Olympics likely to become a revolution?

The organizers have taken extensive measures to show that the Olympic Games are not only a unique sporting event, but also a testament to the country’s commitment to the environment. One innovative concept was to design medals containing fragments of the original Eiffel Tower. The iron used in the production of the 5084 medals came from recycling fragments of the original 1889 structure, which had been lying uselessly in storage for years. As part of the organizational effort, work has also been initiated to clean up the Seine River, and many other measures to reduce the environmental nuisance of sports struggles.

Reducing the carbon footprint

Paris, as envisioned, uses modern technology and environmentally friendly materials to minimize its negative impact on the climate. The city has set an ambitious goal of cutting its carbon emissions in half compared to the Games held in London and Rio De Janeiro. Much of this reduction is due to the shift to renewable energy, mainly solar and wind. The projected carbon footprint means emissions of approx. 1.58 million tons of_CO2 equivalent (3.4 million tons in 2012 and 3.6 million tons in 2016).

In addition, Paris has pledged to reduce_CO2 emissions_by promoting public transportation and electric vehicles to carry athletes and visitors. Toyota, a major sponsor of the Games, will provide a fleet of green vehicles in support of sustainable mobility. It will allocate a total of 2764 electrified vehicles and 700 other electric mobility solutions.

A green vision for construction

Extremely important for lower_CO2 emissions is the fact that as much as 95 percent. facilities used during the Games already exist or are temporary constructions. The newly-constructed buildings, including the Olympic village, have been designed to the highest environmental standards and are being constructed using low-carbon materials and environmentally friendly technologies. The buildings will be equipped with furniture made from biodegradable and recycled materials.

After the Games, the Olympic village will be converted into housing for Parisians. Preparing the main sports facilities was also guided by ecological values. As many as 11,000. The seats were made from recycled plastic. Le Pave, the company leading the initiative, has produced ergonomic seating for the Adidas Arena and aquatic center, which will host various Olympic events, from 100 tons of plastic.

Education and community involvement

The organizers also focus on education and community involvement in the idea of sustainability. They are planning a number of initiatives to raise environmental awareness, including workshops and public campaigns. With this approach, they want not only to reduce the environmental impact of the Games, but also to initiate changes in society on a larger scale. Among other things, it was prepared. tool called Climate Coach , which allows sports event initiators to calculate their environmental impact and reduce it. It has already been used in the organization of 130 events – an average reduction in carbon footprint of 20 percent has been achieved.

Sports for nature

The Olympic Organizing Committee, together with the International Olympic Committee and more than two dozen other sports institutions, has joined the UN initiative Sport for Nature . This means a commitment to protecting key species and their habitats, repairing damaged ecosystems, promoting sustainable production methods, and motivating the sports community to take an active role in conservation. The initiative underscores the important role the sports world can play in protecting our planet. All that is needed is for athletes to encourage activities that will help preserve biodiversity and promote sustainable development.

Will Paris make history as the host of the first Green Games?

Despite the ambitious plans, Paris still faces challenges in putting its goals into practice. Critics point to the need for close monitoring of_CO2 emissions and waste management to ensure that environmental promises are met.

Will Paris make history as the host of the first Green Games? We will know the answer to this question soon, but one thing is certain: such initiatives show that the direction of change is the right one, and that sports can go hand in hand with protecting our planet.