Transforming the Olympics:A New Era of Sustainability

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is leading a groundbreaking shift in how these events are planned, executed and remembered, aiming to set a new standard for large-scale sporting events with a focus on minimising their environmental impact. The recent Paris 2024 Olympics serves as a prime example of this sustainable revolution.

The Urgent Need for Change

The Olympics has long been a showcase of human endeavour and excellence, but at the same time has in the past been critiqued for how heavily a 16-day event treads on the planet. From the construction of massive stadiums to the carbon emissions from international travel, the ecological footprint of the Games has often been substantial. In an era where climate change and environmental issues are at the forefront of global concern, the need for a more sustainable approach to hosting such a monumental event has become undeniable.

This year’s Games was an opportunity for the IOC to put its money where its mouth is when it comes to sustainability, and the measures that were taken at these Games highlight the pivotal role that Paris 2024 will play in demonstrating the IOC’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions.

Paris 2024: A Sustainable Blueprint in Action

The Paris 2024 Olympics was one of the most hotly anticipated events of the year, with some of the world’s biggest stars competing across hundreds of events, from archery to water polo, athletics to skateboarding. However, putting on such a vast programme requires significant energy and resources, which in the past have not always been sourced sustainably. Paris 2024, however, was different, as it set out to develop a new sustainable blueprint to be embraced by future host cities around the world.

Energy and Transportation

One of the most ambitious aspects of Paris 2024’s sustainability strategy was its commitment to reducing carbon emissions by 50% compared to the average London 2012 and Rio 2016: 3.5 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. (At the time of writing these figures are yet to be published.) This goal is aligned with the Paris Agreement, ratified at the UN’s annual climate talks in 2015, and is a testament to the city’s commitment to combating climate change.

To achieve this, the Paris Olympic Committee promised to use 100% renewable electricity throughout the Games. All venues were connected to the grid, eliminating the need for temporary energy solutions and showcasing a game-changing approach to large-scale renewable energy usage. Additionally, the shift from diesel generators to those powered by hydrogen, biofuel, or batteries, along with the use of onsite renewables such as the 4,680m² of solar panels on the roof of the new aquatics centre, further underlines this commitment.

Transportation was another major focus, connecting all venues to public transport and installing more than 400km of ecobike lanes around the Olympic Village to encourage active travel. Electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles have been selected for athlete transport, reinforcing the sustainable ethos of the Games.

As Green.org put it: “Paris is on a mission to show the world how a huge global event can be both thrilling and eco-friendly. By focusing on green transportation, the city is tackling pollution head-on and offering a cleaner, quieter way to get around. This isn’t just about fancy gadgets and tech; it’s about making a real difference for the environment and setting an example for other cities to follow.”

Resources and Waste Management

Large-scale sporting events are notorious for generating significant amounts of waste, particularly from food and drinks packaging. Paris 2024 aims to address this by halving the use of single-use plastics compared to the average across the past three Summer Olympics. The organisers have also committed to reusing 100% of catering resources, ensuring that food production results in as little waste as possible.

Massimo Bottura, United Nations Environment Programme Goodwill Ambassador and Food for Soul co-founder, said: “At the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, I was shocked to learn that unused fruit and vegetables were sent off to be burned because it was more expensive to distribute them to those in need.

“The 2024 Olympics organisers recognised the issue and committed to working with associations that will pick up and redistribute food surplus, as well as adapt recipes to maximise their full use and right size food portions.”

Water and soda fountains have been installed to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic bottles, and spectators are encouraged to use their own reusable bottles. The 13 million meals prepared during the Games will feature double the number of plant-based ingredients, with 80% of the food being produced locally. These measures not only reduce carbon emissions but also support local businesses and promote healthier, more sustainable eating habits.

In terms of infrastructure, the Paris Games are making significant strides in reuse and recycling. Some 95 per cent of Paris 2024 venues were already existing or temporary, meaning that new constructions were minimised. The Stade de France, built for the 1998 World Cup, is hosting numerous events, reducing the need for new construction. The newly-built aquatics centre, designed with limited emissions, will serve the local community after the Games, providing much-needed sporting infrastructure. Even the Olympic Village has been designed with a future in mind, with plans to convert it into workplaces and apartments for 6,000 people after the Games.

Moreover, the Olympics have adopted more sustainable approaches to sporting equipment and media coverage. Three-quarters of the required two million pieces of sporting equipment are rented, with similar practices applied to electronic equipment, stands, tents, and bungalows. These policies mean that 90% of the six million assets will be reused, significantly reducing resource consumption.

Accommodation and Biodiversity

The Olympic Village has often been regarded as one of the most polluting and energy-consuming aspects of the Games. Paris 2024 is addressing this by utilising solar and geothermal energy rather than non-renewable sources. The Village is also furnished with recycled components, such as bed bases and mattresses, and biodiversity has been prioritised with enclosures on rooftops to create habitats for birds and insects. Nearly 9,000 trees have been planted in and around the Village, providing both climate adaptation benefits and habitats for local wildlife.

Regeneration and Legacy

One of the key goals for the 2024 Olympics is to improve living conditions in the local area surrounding the Olympic Village. The aquatic centre will remain a sporting hub for the community, and parts of the Village will be transformed into public housing and workplaces, contributing to long-term economic development in the region. Other infrastructural improvements, such as underground electricity lines and a noise barrier on the A86 motorway, are also set to enhance the quality of life for Paris residents.

Setbacks and Challenges

While the Paris 2024 Games represent a significant step forward in sustainability, not all initiatives have proceeded as planned. The project to clean the River Seine, for example, has encountered difficulties, with water quality being deemed unsafe for swimming as of June 2023 due to excess faecal bacteria. Additionally, due to anticipated high temperatures during the Games, the original plan to cool the Olympic Village with a geothermal system has been supplemented with 2,500 air-conditioning units, resulting in additional carbon emissions. Even efforts to make food options in the athletes’ village more sustainable were criticised. 60% of all meals served were meatless and a third plant-based, but Great Britain swimming silver-medallist Adam Peaty was opposed to the changes: “The narrative of sustainability has just been pushed on the athletes,” he said. “I want meat, I need meat to perform and that’s what I eat at home, so why should I change?

These setbacks highlight the challenges of achieving a fully “green” Games, but they should not overshadow the substantial progress being made. As Valeska Pack, Sustainable buildings expert and PhD researcher, writing for Edie.net, notes, “setbacks such as this are to be expected with a project as large as the Olympic Games. These setbacks should not take away from the effort being made by the Olympic Committee to make the Games as sustainable as possible.”

A New Standard for Global Events

The IOC’s sustainability blueprint, as exemplified by Paris 2024, has not only transformed the Paris Olympics but has also set an ambitious precedent for other large-scale global events. The IOC’s Agenda 2020 has been instrumental in laying the foundation for this transformation, requiring host cities to measure, report, and reduce emissions, and to quantify the environmental footprint of the Games before and after the event.

Despite some initial challenges and the eventual abandonment of the standardised reporting system in 2017, this initiative laid crucial groundwork, leading to the development of the IOC’s pioneering Carbon Footprint Methodology, which now guides future Olympic Games.

Looking ahead, the IOC’s commitment to becoming ‘carbon-negative’ beyond 2030, as part of the broader alignment with the Paris Agreement, underlines the organisation’s long-term dedication to sustainability. As Pack points out: “This was a massive turning point, obligating all Olympic Games host cities to report whole-life carbon emissions at bid and initial stages, and closing out the post-event phase with full carbon emissions audit reporting for ease of comparability.”

Changing the Score

This blueprint represents a new era for the Games—one where the legacy left behind is not just one of athletic achievement but also of environmental stewardship. By embracing sustainability the Olympic Games are not just changing how we view sporting events, they are contributing to a broader cultural change that prioritises the health of our planet.

As we enter the single most important learning decade in human history, we can take on the lessons of forward-thinking organisations and drive change for a more sustainable and healthier world.

At Sport Impact Summit, we are creating a team to take on humanity’s most pressing issues. In a world where the impact of climate change is becoming ever more apparent, the transformation of the Olympic Games offers hope and sets a new standard for global leadership in sustainability. Let’s tackle these challenges together and change the score.

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