Green Games: What it is and its importance
Sunday, 17 June 2012
Md Mahfuzur Rahman Siddique
Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA), in observance of World Environment Day 2012 organised a seminar on Green Games featuring the teachers and students of seven high schools of Dhaka city. This has created the scope for discussion on this issue of great interest of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Nearly two decades ago Lillehammer of Norway played host to the 12 Winter Games in 1994. The organising committee was busy in constructing venues of different disciplines of the games. It faced opposition of local environmental activists in building Olympic Hall for speed skating. Local activists, Norwegian environmentalists and some sponsors demanded that the hall, if constructed according to the plan would affect the environment of the nearby birds' sanctuary of Lake Mjosa. In this situation the committee changed the public entrance of the hall and kept the sanctuary intact. Thus the first ever 'Green Games' of the Olympic World came to a successful conclusion by addressing some environmental issues-- venue construction with local materials, energy conservation, use of recyclable utensils and plates and saving virgin forest.
Now the question arises what is meant by 'Green Games'? The IOC or its Sports and Environment Commission have not defined 'Green Games' in literal sense. Here the adjective 'green' used before 'games' connotes the relationship of games and sports with environment. Therefore, at the first instance, green games are referred to the games which are environment friendly. This meaning is not perfect. To understand the true meaning of green games we should refer to the Olympic Charter, the statute of the IOC and the Olympic Movement. According to sub-rule 13 of Rule 2 one specific mission and role of IOC is, "to encourage and support a responsible concern for environmental issues to promote sustainable development in sports and to require that the Olympic games are held accordingly". Therefore, sports, environment and sustainable development are inseparably linked and interdependent. Organising games and sports in a healthy environment and hygienic condition can not be termed green games unless these promote or are conducive to the promotion of sustainable development. Now what is sustainable development? In order to find out its definition we will go back to an epoch-making human endeavour of the recent past. To save environment, human and animal habitat from the dangerous effects of environmental pollution and the resultant climate change, the United Nations Conference on Human Environment (UNCHE) was held in Stockholm in 1972 with the representatives of 113 countries in attendance. After the conference World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) was created with Gro Harlem Brundtland, Prime Minister of Norway as the Chair. Known as the Brundtland Commission it submitted a report called 'Our Common Future'. As per this report "sustainable development satisfies the needs of the present generation without compromising the chance for future generations to satisfy theirs". In the light of this definition Green Games ensure the sporting facilities to the present generation athletes not reducing the chance of satisfying these needs of future generation athletes. Green sporting activities shall not adversely effect surrounding environment, rather have a positive impact and create awareness on it and leave a legacy compatible with sustainable development. Let us now focus on the preconditions of organising truly green games. The IOC with technical assistance of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has formulated policies and undertaken action plans in making games green and sustainable. This is known as Agenda 21 of the IOC. This Agenda of the Olympic Movement also incorporated some of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) which the IOC in cooperation of the Olympic Games Organising Committees (OGOC) is striving to achieve in phases during the 21st century. Hence it is so named. One of its fundamental objectives is the betterment of socio-economic conditions, protection of environment and ecology, and to contribute to sustainable development while organising games by the different constituents of the IOC. Sustainability in games and sports seeks to uplift the condition of the less-advantaged and minority groups. International cooperation is to be integrated to assimilate sustainable development with the second fundamental principle of Olympism namely, "the goal of Olympism is to place sports at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity". The opportunity to compete in games and sports should be guaranteed for all irrespective of gender, economic condition, cultural or religious belief and social standing. Besides, protection of health, building sports infrastructures giving due importance to environment, ecology and biodiversity are some of the requisites of green games. Construction and maintenance of environment friendly sports facilities, economy in use of fuel, hygienic accommodation and catering facilities in big games, use of pure water, empowerment of woman in sport, safeguarding environment and ecology in and around sports facilities, waste management, prevention of air and noise pollution and leaving an eco-friendly legacy for the future generation and sustainable use of the sport structures after the games are the basic conditions of the agenda 21 to ensure green games. In order to implement the above guiding participles the action plans must ensure among others:
(1) Keep the environment and air of sports structures free from pollution where the athletes practice and compete.
(2) Pools, lakes, water bodies, rivers used for aquatic sports should be germ free; drinking water used by the athletes must be pure so that it does not impair their health.
(3) Foods consumed must contain the standard nutrition value.
Air pollution is a great impediment to these games. Among the polluting or more precisely in the terminology of environmental science 'green house gases' carbon dioxide is most harmful. The main source of gas is burning fossil fuel, petrol, diesel, coal and also wood. Excessive emission of carbon in the atmosphere depletes the ozone-layer which protects the harmful effects of ultraviolet ray of sun light. This is responsible for increasing global warming which is the main cause of climate change. Around 64 per cent of global warming is the result of carbon emission. So reducing the amount of carbon in the atmosphere of the sports structures and adjoining areas is essential for greening the games. While constructing a new sports structure the selection and use of land must not destroy trees, plants, herbs and even grass-land. Building new structures should be avoided by repair, renovation and re-structuring of the existing ones. Care must be taken so that the equipments and gears used by athletes do not harm the environment and their health. They should be encouraged to use environment friendly standard gears and equipments. The three 'R' formula- Reduce, Reuse and Recycle are very important. 'Reduce' is careful and economic use of sporting goods and equipment especially facilities such as electric fans, light, air conditioner etc. For example, if needed, the field should be watered in the early or late hours of the day when the sunlight is not severe. This will reduce the amount of water used. Long before our present day concern on environment and we became conscious on reuse of things from environmental viewpoint. 'Recycle' is the reprocessing of used and waste materials. Waste paper is recycled for future use. It is mentionable that at present in most of the IOC publications recycled paper is used with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. Worn-out gloves and sneakers used in sporting purposes can be recycled into rubber and plastic. For green games recycling of used goods is very important. The purification of water of the games village and the waste management activities of Beijing Olympiad 2008 is a very good example of recycling. The Beijing Olympic Games Organising Committee (BOGOC) took 'Green Olympics' plan for the Beijing Olympiad and to reduce air pollution and carbon emission initiated 'Blue Sky' project under its obligation to the IOC on Olympic Games Impact (OGI) and environmental audit. The official mascots of this Olympiad also signified sports, environment and sustainable development. Among the mascots Beibei (a flying fish) represented pollution free clear water, Jingjing (Panda) signified environment protection and green hills, yingying (Tibetan antelope) represented green land and NiNi (a flying swallow) reflected carbon free blue sky.
Only through the successful implementation of the above initiatives organising green games is possible. The sports area is equally vulnerable to the dangerous consequence of climate change. So for practicing games and sports in green environment and organising such games; adequate green belts should be created in and around the sports facilities to keep carbon concentration to permissible limit. The fossil fuel run motorised vehicles must be kept out of bound of structures. A firm commitment of doing these things with all sincerity may be the pledge of Olympic Movement in Bangladesh. In achieving this objective Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) has so far implemented some commendable programmes. In 2010 while organising the 11th South Asian Games vehicular movement was restricted to check carbon emission and control air pollution in the main Stadium. Similar initiatives were taken in other venues also. Now each year BOA undertakes tree plantation activities on June 23 during observance of Olympic Day. This has paved the way of greening games in Bangladesh and it is gaining momentum gradually.
In conclusion, we would like to cite the example of a great teacher of Bangladesh who devoted his whole life in greening the environment. The late Principal Ibrahim Khan, a great litterateur and educationist, regularly planted trees and advised his students to do the same. He taught us this great lesson when the world had not heard of the Earth Summit, the Olympic World had not taken Earth Pledge, the human race had not been awakened on the dangerous effect of global warming and climate change. Let us take lesson from this noble man and devote ourselves to go for green games in Bangladesh.
The writer is the National Coach Director of the Bangladesh Olympic Association
Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA), in observance of World Environment Day 2012 organised a seminar on Green Games featuring the teachers and students of seven high schools of Dhaka city. This has created the scope for discussion on this issue of great interest of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Nearly two decades ago Lillehammer of Norway played host to the 12 Winter Games in 1994. The organising committee was busy in constructing venues of different disciplines of the games. It faced opposition of local environmental activists in building Olympic Hall for speed skating. Local activists, Norwegian environmentalists and some sponsors demanded that the hall, if constructed according to the plan would affect the environment of the nearby birds' sanctuary of Lake Mjosa. In this situation the committee changed the public entrance of the hall and kept the sanctuary intact. Thus the first ever 'Green Games' of the Olympic World came to a successful conclusion by addressing some environmental issues-- venue construction with local materials, energy conservation, use of recyclable utensils and plates and saving virgin forest.
Now the question arises what is meant by 'Green Games'? The IOC or its Sports and Environment Commission have not defined 'Green Games' in literal sense. Here the adjective 'green' used before 'games' connotes the relationship of games and sports with environment. Therefore, at the first instance, green games are referred to the games which are environment friendly. This meaning is not perfect. To understand the true meaning of green games we should refer to the Olympic Charter, the statute of the IOC and the Olympic Movement. According to sub-rule 13 of Rule 2 one specific mission and role of IOC is, "to encourage and support a responsible concern for environmental issues to promote sustainable development in sports and to require that the Olympic games are held accordingly". Therefore, sports, environment and sustainable development are inseparably linked and interdependent. Organising games and sports in a healthy environment and hygienic condition can not be termed green games unless these promote or are conducive to the promotion of sustainable development. Now what is sustainable development? In order to find out its definition we will go back to an epoch-making human endeavour of the recent past. To save environment, human and animal habitat from the dangerous effects of environmental pollution and the resultant climate change, the United Nations Conference on Human Environment (UNCHE) was held in Stockholm in 1972 with the representatives of 113 countries in attendance. After the conference World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) was created with Gro Harlem Brundtland, Prime Minister of Norway as the Chair. Known as the Brundtland Commission it submitted a report called 'Our Common Future'. As per this report "sustainable development satisfies the needs of the present generation without compromising the chance for future generations to satisfy theirs". In the light of this definition Green Games ensure the sporting facilities to the present generation athletes not reducing the chance of satisfying these needs of future generation athletes. Green sporting activities shall not adversely effect surrounding environment, rather have a positive impact and create awareness on it and leave a legacy compatible with sustainable development. Let us now focus on the preconditions of organising truly green games. The IOC with technical assistance of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has formulated policies and undertaken action plans in making games green and sustainable. This is known as Agenda 21 of the IOC. This Agenda of the Olympic Movement also incorporated some of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) which the IOC in cooperation of the Olympic Games Organising Committees (OGOC) is striving to achieve in phases during the 21st century. Hence it is so named. One of its fundamental objectives is the betterment of socio-economic conditions, protection of environment and ecology, and to contribute to sustainable development while organising games by the different constituents of the IOC. Sustainability in games and sports seeks to uplift the condition of the less-advantaged and minority groups. International cooperation is to be integrated to assimilate sustainable development with the second fundamental principle of Olympism namely, "the goal of Olympism is to place sports at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity". The opportunity to compete in games and sports should be guaranteed for all irrespective of gender, economic condition, cultural or religious belief and social standing. Besides, protection of health, building sports infrastructures giving due importance to environment, ecology and biodiversity are some of the requisites of green games. Construction and maintenance of environment friendly sports facilities, economy in use of fuel, hygienic accommodation and catering facilities in big games, use of pure water, empowerment of woman in sport, safeguarding environment and ecology in and around sports facilities, waste management, prevention of air and noise pollution and leaving an eco-friendly legacy for the future generation and sustainable use of the sport structures after the games are the basic conditions of the agenda 21 to ensure green games. In order to implement the above guiding participles the action plans must ensure among others:
(1) Keep the environment and air of sports structures free from pollution where the athletes practice and compete.
(2) Pools, lakes, water bodies, rivers used for aquatic sports should be germ free; drinking water used by the athletes must be pure so that it does not impair their health.
(3) Foods consumed must contain the standard nutrition value.
Air pollution is a great impediment to these games. Among the polluting or more precisely in the terminology of environmental science 'green house gases' carbon dioxide is most harmful. The main source of gas is burning fossil fuel, petrol, diesel, coal and also wood. Excessive emission of carbon in the atmosphere depletes the ozone-layer which protects the harmful effects of ultraviolet ray of sun light. This is responsible for increasing global warming which is the main cause of climate change. Around 64 per cent of global warming is the result of carbon emission. So reducing the amount of carbon in the atmosphere of the sports structures and adjoining areas is essential for greening the games. While constructing a new sports structure the selection and use of land must not destroy trees, plants, herbs and even grass-land. Building new structures should be avoided by repair, renovation and re-structuring of the existing ones. Care must be taken so that the equipments and gears used by athletes do not harm the environment and their health. They should be encouraged to use environment friendly standard gears and equipments. The three 'R' formula- Reduce, Reuse and Recycle are very important. 'Reduce' is careful and economic use of sporting goods and equipment especially facilities such as electric fans, light, air conditioner etc. For example, if needed, the field should be watered in the early or late hours of the day when the sunlight is not severe. This will reduce the amount of water used. Long before our present day concern on environment and we became conscious on reuse of things from environmental viewpoint. 'Recycle' is the reprocessing of used and waste materials. Waste paper is recycled for future use. It is mentionable that at present in most of the IOC publications recycled paper is used with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. Worn-out gloves and sneakers used in sporting purposes can be recycled into rubber and plastic. For green games recycling of used goods is very important. The purification of water of the games village and the waste management activities of Beijing Olympiad 2008 is a very good example of recycling. The Beijing Olympic Games Organising Committee (BOGOC) took 'Green Olympics' plan for the Beijing Olympiad and to reduce air pollution and carbon emission initiated 'Blue Sky' project under its obligation to the IOC on Olympic Games Impact (OGI) and environmental audit. The official mascots of this Olympiad also signified sports, environment and sustainable development. Among the mascots Beibei (a flying fish) represented pollution free clear water, Jingjing (Panda) signified environment protection and green hills, yingying (Tibetan antelope) represented green land and NiNi (a flying swallow) reflected carbon free blue sky.
Only through the successful implementation of the above initiatives organising green games is possible. The sports area is equally vulnerable to the dangerous consequence of climate change. So for practicing games and sports in green environment and organising such games; adequate green belts should be created in and around the sports facilities to keep carbon concentration to permissible limit. The fossil fuel run motorised vehicles must be kept out of bound of structures. A firm commitment of doing these things with all sincerity may be the pledge of Olympic Movement in Bangladesh. In achieving this objective Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) has so far implemented some commendable programmes. In 2010 while organising the 11th South Asian Games vehicular movement was restricted to check carbon emission and control air pollution in the main Stadium. Similar initiatives were taken in other venues also. Now each year BOA undertakes tree plantation activities on June 23 during observance of Olympic Day. This has paved the way of greening games in Bangladesh and it is gaining momentum gradually.
In conclusion, we would like to cite the example of a great teacher of Bangladesh who devoted his whole life in greening the environment. The late Principal Ibrahim Khan, a great litterateur and educationist, regularly planted trees and advised his students to do the same. He taught us this great lesson when the world had not heard of the Earth Summit, the Olympic World had not taken Earth Pledge, the human race had not been awakened on the dangerous effect of global warming and climate change. Let us take lesson from this noble man and devote ourselves to go for green games in Bangladesh.
The writer is the National Coach Director of the Bangladesh Olympic Association