Making sport operations and activities environmentally-friendly is possible, underlined the director of a French observatory for sport and sustainable development in an interview with EurActiv.

Sustainable development is the answer to sports-related global problems, said Nathalie Durand, director-general of the French Observatory of Sport and Sustainable Development (OSDD).

The problems to be addressed include air pollution affecting athletes’ health, greenhouse gas emissions generated by sports equipment and water used by swimming pools and golf courses amid current fears of water scarcity, she explained.

According to Durand, irresponsible economic practices and intensive production of sports equipment should also be considered.

She described sport as an actor in territorial development, with environmental, social and economic impacts. It also affects competition for land, consumption of goods and foods, and waste, transport and CO2, she said. Durand believes in furthering cooperation between all actors.

Making sport sustainable requires global consideration of the impact of sports infrastructure, equipment, events, clubs and related transport, Durand underlined, adding that OSDD had developed the idea of life-cycle assessment (LCA) for sporting activities as well as an accompanying means of evaluating progress.

The full article can be found at http://www.euractiv.com/en/sports/eu-sport-sustainable/article-182872

Blue Ambassador Sara Campbell is interviewed by Chris Harvey for The Telegraph, and gives a candid view on how she became a World Champion Freediver.

Sara Campbell took up freediving three years ago to escape the traumas of life on dry land. Already the world record holder for descending to 96m on one lungful of air, she now has her sights on even greater depths.

For the full article click here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/diving/5443180/Sara-Campbell-working-under-pressure.html

Sara Campbell

World record holder and BLUE Ambassador, Sara Campbell was on BBC Breakfast and ITV’s This Morning talking about her 96m world record dive. Sara who will be in the UK for selected speaking engagements and media opportunities talked about her next challenge to become the first female to break the 100m record. visit www.theblueproject.org/saracampbell if you would like to know more about Sara. You can also book her for your speaking event here at Sport Environment.

A source inside Vancouver 2010 has told GamesBids.com that the Olympic organizing committee will soon unveil a zero carbon footprint Olympic cauldron. The unprecedented design that follows years of intense research and development will use solar energy to power the flame both day and night.

Rumours of the new technology were rampant among delegates of the World Conference on Sport and the Environment in Vancouver this week and all were hoping for an announcement before the end of the conference Tuesday. An insider said VANOC is instead preparing a separate future unveiling of the technological breakthrough.

While the details have not yet been released – solar energy will be captured by panels and stored in fuel cells that will be harnessed to create a ‘flame’ without any combustion.

“It’s an unbelievable breakthrough” our source said. “It’s hard to imagine how it all works until you actually see it. This will change everything.”

But does the flame look real? We’re told that we won’t see any difference and the cauldron will still be ‘lit’ by the last torch in the relay.

The new technology will also be useable in other applications including heating and manufacturing. This promises to be the Olympics single biggest contribution to the world – next to our gold medal heroes.

Vancouver 2010

Tokyo, 5 March 2009 – Tokyo 2016’s vision for hosting a Carbon-Minus Olympic and Paralympic Games continues to gain momentum, as Japan’s vibrant capital city reports continued progress in its world-leading environmental initiatives.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s (TMG) ten-year plan to transform the city into a 21st Century showcase of urban sustainability has given rise to an innovative pledge to make Tokyo a carbon-minus city to help secure its Olympic legacy. This, together with the ‘Tokyo’s Big Change’ initiative, charts a decade-long course for the city’s urban and environmental transformation.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s commitment to a carbon-minus society is reflected fully in the Tokyo 2016 Bid proposal. Tokyo 2016’s Bid prioritizes use of existing facilities wherever possible. Where new and temporary venues are required, they will be proactively implemented with high-efficiency, passive designs incorporating energy conservation technology as well as solar, wind and other renewable energy sources. Low- to zero-emission vehicles are another feature of this plan.

The new United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is set to be finalized at the COP 15 conference, which takes place in Copenhagen in December 2009, and Tokyo is pushing forward with the ‘The 10 Year Project for a Carbon-Minus Tokyo’ in the lead up to this milestone. Advanced technology, public-private burden sharing and investment incentives are cornerstones of this effort to achieve a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by the end of fiscal year 2020 relative to the benchmark year of 2000. To date, a total of 36.5 billion yen has been earmarked for 107 projects related to ‘The 10 Year Project for a Carbon-Minus Tokyo’.

The 10-Year Project for Green Tokyo’, meanwhile, aims to promote green urbanism among the Japanese people - enhancing appreciation for the natural environment through initiatives such as organized tree plantings and guidance on protecting greenery.

Another key undertaking is the creation of 1000 hectares of green space in the Umi-no-Mori, or Sea Forest, now under development in Tokyo Bay. The proposed site for Equestrian(cross-country), Cycling(mountain bike and BMX), Rowing and Canoe/Kayak(flatwater) at Tokyo 2016, the Sea Forest Cluster symbolises the rebirth of Tokyo in the form of waterways and green corridors.

As well as improvements to biodiversity and water quality, some 480,000 seedlings are being planted over approximately 88 hectares. A million roadside trees will also be planted throughout the city 540,000 of those by April 2009 – while grass play areas will have been provided to 121 public primary and junior high schools by the same time.
Dr Ichiro Kono, Chair and CEO of Tokyo 2016, said:

“Tokyo 2016 is committed to staging the most compact, athlete-friendly Games - and the first to be carbon-minus. Our city is leading the world’s major urban centers in long-term environmental planning, and we hope to welcome the world in 2016 to see both a memorable Games, and the benefits of our green strategy.”

Athletes and sports fans will not need to wait until Tokyo 2016 to see world-class sport in a sustainable framework, however. Taking place on 22 March, Tokyo Marathon 2009 is set to be the greenest in history.

Athletes, supporters and officials will benefit from innovations such as jackets and caps made from recycled polyester, hybrid cars and buses to and from venues, and water cups made from thinned lumber. All 35,000 runners will sport green shoelaces to raise awareness of global warming and the importance of environmental protection.

Source:
Tokyo 2016 Bid City

LINK :
Tokyo 2016 Bid City

WWF’s Earth Hour - It’s as simple as the flick of a switch.
On Saturday 28 March 2009 at 8.30pm, people, businesses and iconic buildings around the world will switch off their lights for an hour – WWF’s Earth Hour.

Sign up to show that you care about people, wildlife and the planet, and that you want the world’s leaders to take action to tackle climate change.

Some 1180 cities from 80 countries across the globe have already signed up. In addition, a great number of iconic landmarks will be plunged into darkness, including Nelson’s Column, the Forth Bridge, the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, the Eiffel Tower, Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Table Mountain in Cape Town and Sydney Opera House. The London Eye, too, will be dimmed for the hour.

This inspiring event will kickstart WWF’s global deal campaign to convince governments to agree effective action on climate change. December’s UN climate summit in Copenhagen is their last chance to get it right, so we need to ensure they know we care.

Get involved!
Sign up, switch off and spread the word.

You can register as an individual, organisation, school or business. And once registered, you will receive information on what you can do to become more involved in WWF’s Earth Hour, including useful resources and tips.

To register and for more information please click here

Adventure writer for the Daily Telegraph, Tarquin Cooper, writes about how a growing number of world class athletes are reinventing themselves as adventurers.  Why is this, you may ask yourselves.  Tarquin talks about athletes looking for a bit of variety but we like to think that it is more about athletes wanting to participate in more sporting activities that take part in and highlight the beauty of our natural environment.  To read the full article, courtesy of the Daily Telegraph, please click here.

Teresa, Sport Environment

The Sunday Times features BLUE Ambassador Sam Davies on the front page (Sunday 15 February 2009) after she finished the Vendee Globe - a 96 day ocean sailing battle round the world, single handed.  To see the front page courtesy of the Sunday Times, please click here, and to read the article, please click here.

 
 
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is proud to announce that the MCS “Campaign for Clean Seas” has won the award for Best Environmental Campaign, announced by Coast Magazine today.

MCS campaigns to reduce pollution at sea were nominated for the award by Coast magazine’s readers, who responded in their hundreds to propose the very best in a number of categories. Nominations with the most votes were then taken before a panel of esteemed, and critical judges.

One of the judges, TV presenter Miranda Krestovnikoff, said “The way MCS engages the community in its beach cleans is fantastic”.

MCS Beachwatch involves over 5,000 volunteers each year in cleaning up and surveying beaches. MCS has also brought plastic bags, balloons, sewage and many other forms of pollution to public and government attention through its Campaign for Clean Seas.

Dr Sue Kinsey, of the MCS pollution team, says “We are absolutely delighted to win this award, which we accept on behalf of the team of volunteers and staff who have worked so hard to bring about change. We’d like to thank Coast magazine’s readers for nominating us, and showing just how much support there is for our vital, often difficult work.”

We’re also delighted to announce that long term MCS corporate supporter Primrose Valley Hotel in St Ives won the Coast award for Hotel of the Year! A well deserved award, reflecting the thoughtful balance they have achieved between pampering their guests whilst caring for the environment too. Well done Andrew & Sue and whole team!
Beachwatch and Adopt-a-Beach are supported by grants from The Crown Estate and Seafrance.

For more info:

Visit http://www.adoptabeach.org.uk/ 
Visit Coast Magazine’s website
Read the MCS press release

The team at MCS would like to thank every Coast reader that wrote in support of our nomination. But most of all, thanks must go to each and every one of you who has taken part in a beach clean and survey with MCS, has gone “plastic bag free”, or simply given us your support through MCS membership. It really makes a difference!

The BLUE Climate and Oceans Project are so pleased that the MCS has been recognised for it’s fantastic work and will continue to support their “Campaign for Clean Seas” by spreading the word and helping with the annual beach cleans - Vikki Cheung, Sport Environment

Samsung is the first mobile phone manufacturer to launch a solar-powered mobile phone.  Called ‘Blue Earth’, the device was unveiled for the first time at the mobile world congress, this week. 

Ideal for developing markets where individuals spend long periods of time without access to electricity, the device is made from recycled plastic water bottles and is capable of measuring your carbon footprint.

A full charge taking 10-14 hours in the sun would offer about four hours of talk time.  The phone can also be plugged in to charge, with the solar panels used to top up the battery to extend power.

The Samsung Blue Earth phone, which has been designed to look like a flat shiny pebble, enabling users to flaunt their environmental credentials, will be launched initially in Europe in the second half of 2009.

This is a great product for any adventure sports men and women or indeed anyone who has limited access to mains electricity, and it’s environmentally friendly too.

Teresa, Sport Environment

For further information, please click here.