London 2012 blog

One of the nice things about the Olympic and Paralympic world is meeting colleagues doing the same job as you but from other Host Cities. The IOC Sport and Environment Commission meets once a year and as well as general discussions around environmental initiatives of National Olympic Committees and various international sport federations, it is an occasion for the environment and sustainability representatives from the four current Host Cities to meet.

On this occasion we had a full house; we were joined for the first time by Natalia Onischenko, the new ecology advisor to the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games. Hers will be a big task; the environmental implications of the Winter Games are always more challenging in view of the alpine environments in which they take place. So it is good to see that Sochi is bringing together a professional ecology team so early in the preparation phase of the Games.

At the other end of the spectrum, Yu Xiaoxang, the Deputy Director Construction and Environment for BOCOG is beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel. His work has focused on environmental measures in the venues – energy efficiency, water conservation and environmentally friendly materials in particular. He was accompanied by colleagues from Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau who presented to us on the work they had done over the last seven years to improve the city’s air quality. The scale of their work is breathtaking, especially in the face of an economy growing at 12% per annum and an annual 10% increase in the motor vehicle population. It is like the task of Sisyphus.

Our Canadian counterpart from Vancouver 2010 is Ann Duffy. The unique challenge facing her organising committee is engaging with and creating a positive legacy for the many indigenous First Nation communities whose ancestral homes lie in what is today British Columbia.

And of course, not to be outdone, at London 2012 we have our own major focus on sustainability, using the power of the Games to inspire change – be it through the physical regeneration of East London or inspiring behavioural changes and healthier lifestyles.

Four contrasting Host Cities, each with unique challenges and ambitions but also linked by the common thread of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and a mandate to strive for a sustainable legacy.