VANCOUVER 2010: Launch Of First Sustainability Report

The Organising Committee for the XXI Olympic Winter Games – Vancouver 2010 (VANOC) has released its first sustainability report. The report sets out VANOC’s commitments and progress reporting system, and includes accomplishments, success stories and challenges for the period 2005-06 as well as progress on initiatives that are currently under way for the period 2006-07. Commenting on VANOC’s sustainability objectives, VANOC CEO John Furlong said, “We are determined to host sustainable Games as promised in our Bid, and every member of our team embraces that commitment"

Thousands of Efforts
Commenting on the report itself, VANOC’s Vice-President, sustainability, Linda Coady, said, “This report defines sustainability for us, namely managing the social, economic and environmental outcomes of the Games to create lasting benefits locally and globally.“ She continued, ”It’s a big concept that translates into thousands of efforts - big and small - that all make a difference. From redesigning the Whistler alpine skiing course to avoid the small-tailed frog habitat, to supporting Aboriginal youth snowboarders, to planning for a social housing legacy from the Vancouver athletes’ village - these and many more projects like them will leave a Canadian sustainability blueprint for future Olympic and Paralympic hosts to build upon"

Six Performance Goals
The report has six overall sustainability performance goals: accountability; environmental stewardship and impact reduction; social inclusion and responsibility; Aboriginal participation and collaboration; economic benefits from sustainable practices; and sport for sustainable living. For more information and to see the report, visit Vancouver 2010’s official website.

Sustainability And The Olympic Movement
The IOC and the Olympic Movement in general carry out a great deal of work in the field of sustainable development, and since the Centennial Olympic Congress held in Paris in 1994, they have recognised the importance of the environment and sustainable development. This has led to the inclusion of a paragraph in the Olympic Charter and to the IOC promoting sustainable development, while the environment is now also regarded as the third dimension of Olympism, alongside sport and culture.

Vancouver 2010
Vancouver and Whistler will host the XXI Olympic Winter Games from 12 to 28 February 2010 and the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games from 12 to 21 March 2010.