The Paris 2024 Olympic Games just reached its end with a spectacular Closing Ceremony and sports fans around the world are waiting for the Paralympic Games to begin. This is the perfect time to remind ourselves of the power sport has to not only inspire positive change for people and the planet but to spearhead it.
One of the key objectives of Sports for Nature (S4N) - a global initiative of the IUCN, the International Olympic Committee, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy - is to enable its signatories, including the Paris 2024 Organising Committee, to inspire others, share best practices and find the right partners and cooperation, and that not only within the sport sector but also between sports and the nature conservation community.
To this end, several success stories/solutions have already been published on the PANORAMA web platform. Let’s take a closer look:
For the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Olympic Village was planned to become a leading example of sustainable design, demonstrating how rich biodiversity can thrive in dense urban areas. Find out more about how biodiversity was put at the heart of both planning and execution here.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has recently launched the Olympic Forest Network to promote, inspire and provide a framework to National Olympic Committee (NOC) for their nature restoration activities. A number of NOCs have already joined this Network with their projects including reforestation or mangroves restoration. Read more about this sports Solution here.
While delivering a world-class round-the-world sailing race, The Ocean Race also helps to advance marine scientific knowledge and collect data on ocean health. Find out more about how The Ocean Race successfully marries top sport with top science to help improve ocean’s health here.
In Rio de Janeiro, the Jadir Taekwondo Association (AJTKD) uses the sport of taekwondo to not only to help youth improve their physical stamina and find new friends, but also to contribute to the wellbeing of the often vulnerable communities from which its members come, and that including through concrete nature restoration actions as well as awareness raising. Read more about how AJTDJ are nurturing young agents of change for a greener future here.
Responding to the increasing popularity of outdoor sports, the National Olympic Committee and Sports Confederation of Denmark (DIF) and the Danish Foundation for Culture and Sports Facilities (LOA), have developed a concept of ‘trail centres', which is being implemented around the country. Located in, or near, nature, these centres provide individuals and sports associations with a space to meet, train, and access service facilities and information not only about sport activities, but also about the environment and how best to protect it. Find out more about how the trail centres respond to the needs of both people and nature here.
As the S4N initiative continues to expand its reach, more Solutions from S4N Framework signatories will be documented and published as PANORAMA case studies. Stay tuned!