Paris 2024: Upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games setting major sustainability standards
Paris 2024 is just 129 days away and the excitement for the event is increasing each passing day. Considering the concerning social and environmental challenges of today, including extreme natural events and rising temperatures, sports needs to be transformed.
For this reason, since the bid phase, the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games has embraced its responsibilities by offering a model for different Games, more sustainable and just as spectacular, and is mobilising all the possible dynamics to back this approach.
Organising Paris 2024 means developing infrastructures to host over 800 sports events, providing accommodation and transport for 15,000 athletes, equipping and training 45,000 volunteers, serving 13 billion meals and ensuring televised broadcasting across the globe.
Organisers are currently putting in considerable efforts to reduce the event’s environmental and climate impact. By developing and testing more responsible solutions, Paris 2024 seeks to inspire and leave a legacy for more responsible sports.
Check out Paris 2024 actions for more sustainability
1. Reducing carbon emissions
The upcoming Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games is being organised on an ambitious target of “halving its carbon footprint compared with previous Games and offsetting the emissions that cannot be avoided.” Organisers seek to substantially reduce the event’s overall impact.
2. Prioritising existing infrastructure
Only one competition venue is being build, incorporating groundbreaking environmental performance features. Otherwise, Paris 2024 is prioritising existing outstanding sports facilities throughout France and setting up temporary venues in a more responsible approach.
3. Preserving sites and their environment
For all the venues, Paris 2024 identifies the potential environmental impacts linked to the event’s organisation. By regularly monitoring each project, the organisers are working to reduce the massive sports event’s impact on local biodiversity and heritage.
4. Incorporating circular economy principles
From the podiums and temporary infrastructures to the furniture and sports equipment, Paris 2024 is planning ahead for the second life of objects and materials. Circular economy principles ensure an entity doesn’t leave a great impact on the environment.
5. Using renewable energy and responsible catering
Besides choosing to use clean energy, Paris 2024 is also ready to delight all of the Games stakeholders by offering more local and plant-based food options. From sandwiches in stadiums to meals for the greatest athletes, organisers are using a more responsible catering.
6. Reducing waste
During the upcoming Games, the goal is to massively reduce waste and encourage people to take the right steps for the sake of the environment. Paris 2024 is focusing on less single-use plastics and packaging, less food waste, and reusable bottles accepted in venues.
