The Times reports that this week, that British America’s Cup team is set to join forces with the Carbon Trust in an effort to attract new environmental sponsors to the British sailing campaign. The brand values of sailing can be very attractive to commercial partners, so this has the potential to be a strong association for the right brand assuming that it is backed by a very credible campaign. 

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/natural_resources/article6832242.ece

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

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.

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.

Google Inc. today, launched the latest version of Google Earth which provides users with the ability to look more closely at the oceans around the world.  Users can now drop below the ocean surface and explore the seafloor with thousands of data points that include video and images of ocean life.  Google hope that this new version of Google Earth will help users to understand the important role that our oceans play in our global climate and the vital need to protect them.  To read the full article courtesy of Computerworld, please click here.

Last year, BLUE Ambassadors and 180 Degress Pole to Pole explorers, James Hooper and Rob Gautlett were awarded with the prestigious 2008 National Geographic Adventurers of the Year award.  Following the tragic death of Rob earlier this month in a climbing accident, James Hooper speaks to the National Geographic on future plans and continuing Rob’s legacy.  To read the full article, courtesy of The National Geographic, please click here.

The other sailiors in the Vendee Globe like sailing boats but Sam Davies also like’s being at sea.  Steven Morris reports for The Guardian on the successes that Sam Davies is having in the Vendee Globe Single Handed Round the World Yacht Race, being the top Briton in 4th place overall and her level headed approach to any challenges put in her way.  To read the full article, courtesy of The Guardian, please click here.

Conrad Humphreys, Managing Director of Sport Environment, shares his thoughts with Sport Business Magazine, on whether the sports world can unite to combat climate change.  

Click here to view the full article, courtesy of Sport Business Magazine (December 2008 issue).