Sustainability in the Olympic Games: A Journey from London 2012 to Tokyo 2020 🌍🏅

The London 2012 Olympics marked a turning point in how sustainability was approached in the event sector. Prior to these games, there were no established sustainability standards for such large-scale events. However, the London Olympic Committee made sustainability a core part of the event and set standards for future Olympics and major events. Instead of setting rigid targets, the committee encouraged collaboration with local communities, suppliers, and participants to identify key impact areas and develop solutions to mitigate negative effects.

Key Areas of Focus

The sustainability plan focused on five main areas:

1. Climate Change 🌱
2. Waste Management ♻️
3. Biodiversity 🦋
4. Inclusion 🌐
5. Healthy Living 🍎

Success Stories

Two notable achievements from the London 2012 sustainability efforts include:

1. The Transformation of an Industrial Dump: An industrial dump site in East London, notorious for being an eyesore, was cleaned up and repurposed for sports venues. This area is now home to one of Europe’s largest urban parks and will eventually include thousands of new homes in central London. 🌳🏠
2. The “Food Vision” Program: With more than 14 million meals to be served during the event, the program ensured that food was sourced locally and met sustainability standards like Fairtrade and Marine Stewardship Council certification. Major sponsors like McDonald’s and Coca-Cola voluntarily followed these guidelines. 🍔🥗

Setbacks at Sochi 2014

The 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics faced significant challenges with sustainability. Despite promises from the organizers and substantial financial resources, many sustainability efforts fell short. Issues like unlicensed landfills, environmental damage, and the harassment of environmental activists caused setbacks in Olympic sustainability. ❌

Progress at Rio 2016 & Tokyo 2020

The Rio 2016 Olympics made strong efforts to implement sustainability standards and received ISO 20121 certification for their commitment. The Tokyo 2020 committee also published a comprehensive sustainability plan, aiming for minimal impact during the games. 🌿🏟️

While achieving zero-impact for such a massive event is impossible, the work done for the 2012 London Olympics has significantly influenced how large events are planned, setting new sustainability standards for the future.

Conclusion

The sustainability journey of the Olympics has evolved from a new initiative in 2012 to an ongoing commitment with Tokyo 2020 and beyond. Although challenges remain, the Olympics have set an example for other large-scale events in terms of integrating environmental and social responsibility. 🌏🎉