Third World National Olympic Committees need support to implement IOC's green agenda
Saturday, 8 November 2008
Md. Mahfuzur Rahman Siddique
The National Olympic Committee (NOC) are required to implement agenda-21 of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to create awareness on environment and sustainable development through "green games" and "green legacy". But due to financial and technical constraints, it might prove difficult for the Third World NOCs to implement the agenda according the IOC expectations. The IOC, should therefore, follow its own working principle, "think globally, act locally" to provide material and technical assistance to the Third World NOCs in implementing the agenda-21. The sooner the third world NOCs acquire the financial and technical capability to implement Agenda-21 or the green agenda of the IOC, the better will be the outcome in order to enable them to uphold the third pillar of Olympism -- the environment.
Sport and environment are now a days inseparably linked with each other. This interrelationship between the human muscular activities and the natural phenomena being adversely affected by human activities is most vividly reflected prior to, during and after the Games of Olympiad and the Winter Olympic Games, though this was vividly visible during the Games.
It is essential to continuously pursue proactively the policy and programmes of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to neutralise the growing negative impact of the global community on environment.
The idea of environmental protection was first conceived at the United Nations Conference on Human Environment held in Stockholm in 1972, attended government representatives of 113 countries.
Gradually, the United Nations Environment Programme was established to deal with matters concerning protection of environment and sustainable development and ultimately and separate ministries, departments and agencies were created in UN member states.
Much later, came the World Commission on Environment and Development, also known as Brundtland Commission to commemorate founder chairperson Gro Harlem Brundtland, the Prime Minister of Norway.
The IOC, the sole custodian of the World Olympic Movement and also as the world's biggest 'non-governmental non-profit' organisation, older in age and bigger in size than the UNO, did not remain silent in the face of the grave deterioration of environment caused by human ignorance and imprudence. To sensitise the world against environmental pollution under IOC initiative during the xx Olympiad, Munich, 1972, each participating national olympic committee planted a shrub, brought from their respective country in a park close to the games venue.
On the same occasion, a German couple, Luzian and Sigrun Verbogen coined the phrase 'certatio sana in natura sana' which means a 'healthy competition in an intact environment', which compares well with the classical Greek saying 'mens sana in corpore sano' (sound mind in sound body).
The report submitted by the Brundtland Commission report given in 1987 under the caption 'Our Common Future' advocated sustainable development for the preservation of environment, biodiversity and non-renewable natural resources of the world to ensure economic, political and social development particularly benefiting the poorer section of the human society. "Sustainable development," it stressed, "satisfied the needs of the present generation without compromising the chance for future generations to satisfy theirs". It was on the suggestion in the report that the United Nations hosted its Conference on Environment and Development, also known as the 'Earth Summit' in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1992. The summit adopted 'the Agenda 21' -- so named because the implementation of the action plans on environment and sustainable development to be initiated by the stakeholders -- following its recommendations and the same were set to begin at the outset of the 21st century.
During the XXV Olympics, Bercelona, 1992, the IOC pursuing the request of the Earth Summit, urged all international federations and the national olympic committees to sign 'Earth Pledge' to express their commitment to sport, environment and sustainable development. The IOC did it because the athletes, organisers, officials, fans, spectators and others directly and indirectly associated with sport and physical culture constitute a considerable segment of world population. After the Winter Olympic Games of 1994 in Lillebarnmer, which laid special emphasis on environmental protection, the IOC President signed an agreement of co-operation with the UNEP on the issue. In the centennial congress, called the Congress of Unity, held in Paris in 1994, the 10C endorsed 'environment' as the third pillar of Olympism, next to sport and culture. The IOC president established Sport and Environment Commission to deal with the technical aspects of programmes undertaken on these issues. The commission organises World Conference on Sport and Environment with assistance from the UNEP. The first conference was held in the Olympic City of Lausanne, Switzerland ill 1995. In 1996, the Olympic Charter was revised, incorporating environment as one of 'the Missions and Roles of the 10C.' Rule 2(13) of the Charter stipulates that the 10C's role is "to encourage and support a responsible concern for environmental issues, to promote sustainable development in sport and to require the Olympic Games are held accordingly". And in 1999, a separate Agenda 21 for the Olympic Movement on sport, environment and sustainable development, formulated in line with the model suggested by tile UNEP, was adopted at the 10C session in Seoul.
In the same year, it was endorsed by the World Conference on Sport and Environment in Rio de Janeiro. The relationship between sport and environment and the 10C's concern on it was voiced in the statement of IOC President Dr. Jacques Rogge. "Environmental issues are a general concern all over the world, as they affect the daily lives of each and every one of us. As sport, like recreation and physical education activities, is an integral pall of society, it cannot ignore environmental and sustainable development issues. This is why the International Olympic Committee considers the environment as the third dimension of the Olympic Movement, alongside sport and culture. Our objectives are to ensure that staging the Games does not have a negative impact on the environment, but instead develops and enhances it and leaves a green legacy, as well as generally promoting awareness the importance of a healthy environment".
To implement the 10C's policy of 'green games' and 'green legacy,' the prospective host cities of the Games of Olympiad and the Winter Olympic Games must undergo a rigorous scrutiny of their commitment on sport, environment and sustainable development. The games-hosts are required to give written declarations of commitment to sport and environment. The bids are evaluated by the respective commission of the IOC. Among others, the criterion of the infrastructural capacity and technical capability of the bidders to ensure green games, must be fulfilled. This is one of the most vital IOC preconditions to allow any city to host the games.
To create awareness on environment and sustainable development, the Spoil and Environment Commission organises global conferences and regional seminars on the issue to give direction and advice to the national olympic committees to initiate action plans as per Agenda 21. At this year's seminar in Incheon, South Korea, the role played by the Bangladesh national olympic committee was praised by the IOC. In a letter, the IOC requested the Bangladesh national olympic committee to initiate programmes to implement the commitments adopted by a seminar chaired by the Spoil and Environment Commission chairman Dr. Pal Schmitt, also a member of the IOC and a Member of the European Parliament. The NOC Bangladesh Secretary General Kutubuddin Ahmed, who was elected a member of the Spoil and Environment Committee of the OCA persuaded the Bangladesh Olympic Association president, General Moeen U Ahmed to form a Spoil and Environment Committee. The committee is taking steps to implement the seminar commitments for a phased implementation of the declarations of the World Conferences on Spoil and Environment, the action plans of the Agenda 21, by the Bangladesh Olympic Association.
Since "think globally, act locally" is the working policy of the IOC Commission on Sports and Environment, the IOC and the Commission should provide material and technical assistance to the NOCs to act locally on sports and environment. Given the financial and technical constraints facing the NOCs in the developing and under developed countries, it may not be possible for them to contribute in this area of the Olympic Movement as per the expectations of the IOC. The IOC should therefore consider this issue. If the Third World national olympic committees lack the ability to implement the agenda, the declarations and the commitments, they might lose the chance for bidding to host even the continental and regional games recognised by the IOC. The question of bidding for Olympiad Games will then remain a distant dream for them. To augment the capacity of national olympic committees in developing and the least developed countries to address the environmental and sustainable development concerns, the IOC and its Commission on Sports and Environment should initiate a special scheme. The sooner the third world NOCs acquire the financial and technical capability to implement the Agenda 21 of the IOC in letter and sprit, the better will be the outcome in order to enable them to uphold the understanding and conviction of the third pillar of Olympism -- the environment.
The National Olympic Committee (NOC) are required to implement agenda-21 of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to create awareness on environment and sustainable development through "green games" and "green legacy". But due to financial and technical constraints, it might prove difficult for the Third World NOCs to implement the agenda according the IOC expectations. The IOC, should therefore, follow its own working principle, "think globally, act locally" to provide material and technical assistance to the Third World NOCs in implementing the agenda-21. The sooner the third world NOCs acquire the financial and technical capability to implement Agenda-21 or the green agenda of the IOC, the better will be the outcome in order to enable them to uphold the third pillar of Olympism -- the environment.
Sport and environment are now a days inseparably linked with each other. This interrelationship between the human muscular activities and the natural phenomena being adversely affected by human activities is most vividly reflected prior to, during and after the Games of Olympiad and the Winter Olympic Games, though this was vividly visible during the Games.
It is essential to continuously pursue proactively the policy and programmes of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to neutralise the growing negative impact of the global community on environment.
The idea of environmental protection was first conceived at the United Nations Conference on Human Environment held in Stockholm in 1972, attended government representatives of 113 countries.
Gradually, the United Nations Environment Programme was established to deal with matters concerning protection of environment and sustainable development and ultimately and separate ministries, departments and agencies were created in UN member states.
Much later, came the World Commission on Environment and Development, also known as Brundtland Commission to commemorate founder chairperson Gro Harlem Brundtland, the Prime Minister of Norway.
The IOC, the sole custodian of the World Olympic Movement and also as the world's biggest 'non-governmental non-profit' organisation, older in age and bigger in size than the UNO, did not remain silent in the face of the grave deterioration of environment caused by human ignorance and imprudence. To sensitise the world against environmental pollution under IOC initiative during the xx Olympiad, Munich, 1972, each participating national olympic committee planted a shrub, brought from their respective country in a park close to the games venue.
On the same occasion, a German couple, Luzian and Sigrun Verbogen coined the phrase 'certatio sana in natura sana' which means a 'healthy competition in an intact environment', which compares well with the classical Greek saying 'mens sana in corpore sano' (sound mind in sound body).
The report submitted by the Brundtland Commission report given in 1987 under the caption 'Our Common Future' advocated sustainable development for the preservation of environment, biodiversity and non-renewable natural resources of the world to ensure economic, political and social development particularly benefiting the poorer section of the human society. "Sustainable development," it stressed, "satisfied the needs of the present generation without compromising the chance for future generations to satisfy theirs". It was on the suggestion in the report that the United Nations hosted its Conference on Environment and Development, also known as the 'Earth Summit' in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1992. The summit adopted 'the Agenda 21' -- so named because the implementation of the action plans on environment and sustainable development to be initiated by the stakeholders -- following its recommendations and the same were set to begin at the outset of the 21st century.
During the XXV Olympics, Bercelona, 1992, the IOC pursuing the request of the Earth Summit, urged all international federations and the national olympic committees to sign 'Earth Pledge' to express their commitment to sport, environment and sustainable development. The IOC did it because the athletes, organisers, officials, fans, spectators and others directly and indirectly associated with sport and physical culture constitute a considerable segment of world population. After the Winter Olympic Games of 1994 in Lillebarnmer, which laid special emphasis on environmental protection, the IOC President signed an agreement of co-operation with the UNEP on the issue. In the centennial congress, called the Congress of Unity, held in Paris in 1994, the 10C endorsed 'environment' as the third pillar of Olympism, next to sport and culture. The IOC president established Sport and Environment Commission to deal with the technical aspects of programmes undertaken on these issues. The commission organises World Conference on Sport and Environment with assistance from the UNEP. The first conference was held in the Olympic City of Lausanne, Switzerland ill 1995. In 1996, the Olympic Charter was revised, incorporating environment as one of 'the Missions and Roles of the 10C.' Rule 2(13) of the Charter stipulates that the 10C's role is "to encourage and support a responsible concern for environmental issues, to promote sustainable development in sport and to require the Olympic Games are held accordingly". And in 1999, a separate Agenda 21 for the Olympic Movement on sport, environment and sustainable development, formulated in line with the model suggested by tile UNEP, was adopted at the 10C session in Seoul.
In the same year, it was endorsed by the World Conference on Sport and Environment in Rio de Janeiro. The relationship between sport and environment and the 10C's concern on it was voiced in the statement of IOC President Dr. Jacques Rogge. "Environmental issues are a general concern all over the world, as they affect the daily lives of each and every one of us. As sport, like recreation and physical education activities, is an integral pall of society, it cannot ignore environmental and sustainable development issues. This is why the International Olympic Committee considers the environment as the third dimension of the Olympic Movement, alongside sport and culture. Our objectives are to ensure that staging the Games does not have a negative impact on the environment, but instead develops and enhances it and leaves a green legacy, as well as generally promoting awareness the importance of a healthy environment".
To implement the 10C's policy of 'green games' and 'green legacy,' the prospective host cities of the Games of Olympiad and the Winter Olympic Games must undergo a rigorous scrutiny of their commitment on sport, environment and sustainable development. The games-hosts are required to give written declarations of commitment to sport and environment. The bids are evaluated by the respective commission of the IOC. Among others, the criterion of the infrastructural capacity and technical capability of the bidders to ensure green games, must be fulfilled. This is one of the most vital IOC preconditions to allow any city to host the games.
To create awareness on environment and sustainable development, the Spoil and Environment Commission organises global conferences and regional seminars on the issue to give direction and advice to the national olympic committees to initiate action plans as per Agenda 21. At this year's seminar in Incheon, South Korea, the role played by the Bangladesh national olympic committee was praised by the IOC. In a letter, the IOC requested the Bangladesh national olympic committee to initiate programmes to implement the commitments adopted by a seminar chaired by the Spoil and Environment Commission chairman Dr. Pal Schmitt, also a member of the IOC and a Member of the European Parliament. The NOC Bangladesh Secretary General Kutubuddin Ahmed, who was elected a member of the Spoil and Environment Committee of the OCA persuaded the Bangladesh Olympic Association president, General Moeen U Ahmed to form a Spoil and Environment Committee. The committee is taking steps to implement the seminar commitments for a phased implementation of the declarations of the World Conferences on Spoil and Environment, the action plans of the Agenda 21, by the Bangladesh Olympic Association.
Since "think globally, act locally" is the working policy of the IOC Commission on Sports and Environment, the IOC and the Commission should provide material and technical assistance to the NOCs to act locally on sports and environment. Given the financial and technical constraints facing the NOCs in the developing and under developed countries, it may not be possible for them to contribute in this area of the Olympic Movement as per the expectations of the IOC. The IOC should therefore consider this issue. If the Third World national olympic committees lack the ability to implement the agenda, the declarations and the commitments, they might lose the chance for bidding to host even the continental and regional games recognised by the IOC. The question of bidding for Olympiad Games will then remain a distant dream for them. To augment the capacity of national olympic committees in developing and the least developed countries to address the environmental and sustainable development concerns, the IOC and its Commission on Sports and Environment should initiate a special scheme. The sooner the third world NOCs acquire the financial and technical capability to implement the Agenda 21 of the IOC in letter and sprit, the better will be the outcome in order to enable them to uphold the understanding and conviction of the third pillar of Olympism -- the environment.