Sustainability
Driven by our vision to build a better world through sport, we believe it is our responsibility to contribute to global sustainability efforts. In line with Olympic Agenda 2020+5, our aim is to minimise our footprint and maximise our positive influence across social, environmental and economic spheres.
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The IOC Sustainability Strategy
The IOC has adopted a holistic approach to sustainability, working across its three spheres of responsibility: as an organisation, as the owner of the Olympic Games and as the leader of the Olympic Movement. The IOC Sustainability Strategy covers five inter-related focus areas: infrastructure and natural sites, sourcing and resource management, mobility, workforce, and climate.
IOC’S THREE SPHERES OF RESPONSIBILITY
IOC as an organisation
As an organisation, we want to lead by example on sustainability. Sustainability is a working principle for the IOC: when making decisions, we seek to maximise positive impact and minimise negative impact in the social, economic and environmental spheres.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s efforts to systematically and continually improve the sustainability performance across its corporate events has resulted in it receiving certification to the international standard ISO 20121:2012 on Event Sustainability Management Systems.
IOC as owner of the Olympic Games
The IOC works hand in hand with the Organising Committees for the Olympic Games to ensure that sustainability is included in all aspects of the planning and delivery of the Olympic Games. Our aim is to reduce the Games’ footprint while maximising the lasting benefits the Games create for their hosts.
The updated Host City Contract -Operational Requirements, published in July 2018, reflect outcomes of Olympic Agenda 2020 - The New Norm, which is a series of 118 measures that provides cities with increased flexibility in designing and delivering cost-effective, sustainable and legacy-enhancing Olympic and Paralympic Games.
See how sustainability has been integrated throughout the Operational Requirements.
Launched at the UN Climate Change Summit COP24, this guide provides detailed guidance to the Organising Committees on how to measure the carbon footprint of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
IOC as leader of the Olympic Movement
As the leader of the Olympic Movement, the IOC uses its influence to encourage the broader Olympic Movement – including National Olympic Committees, International Sports Federations and athletes – to make sport more sustainable.
