What Environmental Goals Were Set In The Lead Up To London 2012 And Rio 2016 Olympics

Critically Discuss What Environmental Goals Were Set In The Lead Up To London 2012 And Rio 2016 Olympics And With Reference To Appropriate Evidence, Evaluate Whether Both Events Delivered On Their Sustainable Promise.

Since the Olympic Games were created, they have been able to bring various sports to the limelight and have been able to encourage people to place aside political, economic, religious and cultural barriers. However, when more than ten million people tends to crowd together and hundred buildings are built to lit up, one can imagine how this may be a damage to the environment (Burt 2016).

Currently, there are concerns over hosting 2022 Olympic games in Beijing China which has already been plagued with desertification problems as well as other fear of athletes safety which is caused by poor water condition which was raised during 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics (Burt 2016). With such challenges being raised, it is evident that environmental costs has been a topic of concern to the hosting countries but has actually shown how the environment needs to be taken during the Games.

The goals set aimed at laying foundation as well as integrating core principles, projects and actions that are related with sustainability while hosting such global events. The goals of the Olympics were supported by core pillars of people, planet and prosperity. As well, the goals were established with various input form the federal, state and municipal authorities (Burt 2016). At the launch of the goals, there was signing of technical cooperation agreement with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) aimed at offering evaluation objectives close to sustainability subject (RIO 2016).

During the launch of the Olympic in Rio 2016, President Carlos Nuzman was able to set out various crucial roles aimed at supporting sports to ensure there is more sustainable world. He stated that, “Following the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio, in 1992, the Olympic Movement’s concern with environmental issues is constantly increasing. In 1996, the Olympic Charter was amended to recognize the environment as the third pillar of Olympics, and in 1999, the IOC created the Olympic Movement’s Agenda 21, defining policies associated with sport” (RIO 2016, Para 4).

During London 2012 Olympics, one of the most visible achievements was the capacity to create an Olympic park on once contaminated industrial land which was converted to one of the largest new city parkland in Europe (RIO 2016). In addition, the Olympic venues were reported to have the capacity of boasting crucial sustainability documentations with the stadium such as the use of surplus gas supply pipes in construction of “top ring” of the venue. As well, the Velodrome was build from sustainable sourced timbers while the copper box was fully covered and assisted in lowering water usage by almost 40 percent via recycling or rainwater (Burt 2016).

In fact, London 2012 Olympic was said to be the first one to have measured the carbon footprint for the entire project term and was the first Olympic to have committed towards achieving zero wastage and meet the targets of Strategic Zero Waste Games Vision. Overall, the organizers of the Olympics were able to save almost 400,000 tones of carbon dioxide. As well, almost 100 percent of the wastes were diverted from the landfill and 62 percent of the wastages were reused, recycles and composted (Burt 2016).

In addition, there was construction of Olympic Park Energy Centre which was carried out with the sustainability in mind and it utilized innovative biomass boilers that are capable of burning wood as well as other sustainable fuels (Burt 2016). The heating and cooling was supplied to the building all through the Olympic park. The Centre was expected to serve the community now and after the games was over. Finally, London 2012, were noted to be a large inspiration towards the development of sustainable management system standard of events that was incorporated in 2007 by BS 8901 (RIO 2016).

Bibliography:

Burt, I, 2016 August, The Environment Impact of the Olympics [online] from: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/-frontier/the-environmental-impact-_b_11581162.html>

RIO 2016, RIO 2016 Launches Sustainability Plan with Support from UNEP, [online] from: https://www.olympic.org/news/rio-2016-launches-sustainability-plan-with-support-from-unep