The Paris 2024 Olympic Games produced 54% fewer carbon emissions than previous Games in Rio (2016) and London (2012), the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said.
In its latest sustainability report, the IOC noted that 100% of the venues used in last summer’s Olympics were powered by renewable energy, while a 90% circularity rate was achieved during the Games.
‘The world of sport is increasingly affected by the consequences of climate change,‘ the IOC said in its report. ‘The scale and frequency of impacts will continue to increase, requiring adaptation measures. Cities and regions interested in hosting the Olympic Games will have opportunities to use the event as a catalyst to support and accelerate the realisation of their climate mitigation and adaptation plans.’
Sustainability achievements
The IOC‘s sustainability report covers the period from 2021 to 2024, during which time the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (postponed by a year due to the pandemic) and Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics took place, with the organisation also noting the sustainability achievements at both of these events – Beijing 2022, for example, used natural CO2 refrigeration in its ice venues, an Olympic first.
On climate change mitigation, the IOC’s work during the 2021-2024 period focused on ensuring a 30% reduction in its carbon footprint; the creation of the ‘Olympic Forest’, a reforestation project in Senegal and Mali; and the promotion of climate-positive Games.
The IOC also addressed climate adaptation, given the growing challenges facing sport due to climate change, such as heatwaves and decreasing snowfall. It has suggested the development of a ‘rotation system’ among a permanent pool of Winter Games hosts and tracking innovations in snow production.
Biodiversity was another focus, with the IOC working to prohibit permanent Olympic construction in protected natural or cultural sites, promoting biodiversity enhancement in host cities, and developing the Sports for Nature Framework in collaboration with the UNEP.
On sourcing and resource management, meanwhile, the IOC sought to strengthen sustainable sourcing practices, support human rights in supply chains (particularly in construction), and promote local sourcing.
A 90% circularity rate was achieved as part of the Paris 2024 resource management plan, while some 98% of Games-related assets were allocated a ‘second life’, the IOC noted.
Paris 2024 achievements
In its accompanying annual report, the IOC said that Paris 2024 achieved full gender parity, sold around 10 million tickets and drew five billion viewers around the world, or 84% of the potential global audience.
“These Olympic Games proved to be a rare symbol of unity and peace in a divided world,” commented IOC president Thomas Bach. “Despite all the geopolitical tensions, we were able to bring together the athletes from the territories of all 206 National Olympic Committees and the IOC Refugee Olympic Team in Paris. They competed fiercely against each other.
“At the same time, they lived peacefully together under one roof in the Olympic Village, even if many of their countries are at war. The athletes showed us what the world could look like if we all lived by the Olympic values.” Read more here and here.
