KALYAN KUMAR MAHATA
The true appellation of Apu.
Rio 2016 continues its sustainability journey
© Luiz Barros/Fiperj
16/12/2013
The Rio 2016 Organising Committee is continuing to deliver its strategy to make the 2016 Olympic Games as sustainable as possible by signing new agreements guaranteeing that all seafood served at the Games will be sustainably sourced and that all wood purchased by Games organisers will be certified as sustainable.
The landmark announcements mean that all of the seafood served to the athletes, officials, media and at the on-site restaurants will be wild caught and responsibly farmed, while all wood and forestry products – including overlay structures, furniture, stationery and communication materials – will also be certified.
Speaking about the seafood agreement, Julie Duffus, Sustainability Manager for the Rio 2016 Organising Committee, said: “This will ensure that our catering not only improves the local food industry but improves it to a standard that will leave a lasting, positive legacy post Games for Rio de Janeiro and Brazil.”
Regarding the certified wood commitment, Tania Braga, Rio 2016 Head of Sustainability, Accessibility and Legacy, added: “It will be a great opportunity to showcase production and consumption practices that are less harmful to the environment with the use of certified products. We are fully committed to realising this important step for sport and for the country.”
The Rio 2016 Organising Committee also recently opened its doors to 25 civil society organisations to hear their contributions towards making the Games even more sustainable.
Approximately 50 representatives took part in the organising committee's first Dialogue Workshop, held on 2-4 December in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The working groups contributed to the revision of the Sustainability Management Plan for the Rio 2016 Games, with proposals for improvements, criticisms and new suggestions. The initiative aims to open a continuous dialogue with civil society and encourage a collective effort to create more sustainable Games.
“We had an extremely productive three days of work,” said Braga. “I was impressed by the level of preparation, the quality of everything that was presented and the desire to contribute. It's an important step in our efforts to deepen dialogue with society and we can count on the help of all these organisations in the work that is ahead of us. We see a unique opportunity to make the most of the Games' power as a catalyst, to meet the important needs of our society.”
Speaking about the seafood agreement, Julie Duffus, Sustainability Manager for the Rio 2016 Organising Committee, said: “This will ensure that our catering not only improves the local food industry but improves it to a standard that will leave a lasting, positive legacy post Games for Rio de Janeiro and Brazil.”
Regarding the certified wood commitment, Tania Braga, Rio 2016 Head of Sustainability, Accessibility and Legacy, added: “It will be a great opportunity to showcase production and consumption practices that are less harmful to the environment with the use of certified products. We are fully committed to realising this important step for sport and for the country.”
The Rio 2016 Organising Committee also recently opened its doors to 25 civil society organisations to hear their contributions towards making the Games even more sustainable.
Approximately 50 representatives took part in the organising committee's first Dialogue Workshop, held on 2-4 December in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The working groups contributed to the revision of the Sustainability Management Plan for the Rio 2016 Games, with proposals for improvements, criticisms and new suggestions. The initiative aims to open a continuous dialogue with civil society and encourage a collective effort to create more sustainable Games.
“We had an extremely productive three days of work,” said Braga. “I was impressed by the level of preparation, the quality of everything that was presented and the desire to contribute. It's an important step in our efforts to deepen dialogue with society and we can count on the help of all these organisations in the work that is ahead of us. We see a unique opportunity to make the most of the Games' power as a catalyst, to meet the important needs of our society.”
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