By Robert Fawdon, Paris, June 14, 2016: The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games Bid Committee have today launched an Environmental Excellence Committee, further strengthening the bid’s commitment to green initiatives and sustainable development.
Chaired by Isabelle Autissier, President of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) France, the Environmental Excellence Committee is composed of 24 highly qualified personnel including scientists, NGO representatives, athletes and entrepreneurs [see note to editors for full list]. The committee will make significant contributions to the development of the Paris 2024 bid and will meet quarterly through to the end of the campaign in September 2017.
At the first meeting of the committee held today in Paris, it was confirmed that work is underway to obtain the ISO 20121 sustainability certificate – a best-practice standard developed for major events. The certificate was held by London 2012 and other major sports events such as UEFA Euro 2016 and Roland Garros also hold the qualification.
The committee aims to secure the certification by the end of 2016 and if granted, it would be the first time that an Olympic bid has held the certificate – demonstrating Paris 2024’s steadfast commitment to environmental matters in all phases of the project.
Official Partner of Paris 2024, Groupe Caisse des Depots, which is engaged in smart city planning, has also announced that it will make a financial contribution to cover the bid’s carbon footprint in order to reduce its overall carbon impact. The funds will go towards sustainable development projects and green initiatives.
The launch of the Environmental Excellence Committee comes after Paris 2024 recently announced a strategic partnership with the WWF France to ensure the bid and the city’s Games Plan implements best practice in sustainability with the ultimate aim of delivering a Games that changes behaviours and encourages a responsible approach to environmental issues.
Paris 2024 Co-Chairman and member of the IOC Sustainability and Legacy Committee, Tony Estanguet, has also been active in the promotion of green initiatives and sustainable development. He delivered a keynote speech on ‘Innovation of French Sport and the Climate’ at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change [COP21] in December 2015.
Paris 2024 Co-Chairman, Tony Estanguet, said:
“We are delighted to launch the Paris 2024 Environmental Excellence Committee which further underlines the bid’s commitment to sustainability and environmental best practice. As our bid continues to develop, we are looking forward to receiving input and recommendations from the committee which is made up of highly qualified individuals in this field.
“Sustainable development has been at the heart of our campaign since the very beginning. A major clean-up of the River Seine and plans for the proposed Olympic and Media Villages to be converted into a new Eco City with 5,000 homes for local people after the Games are fine examples of our pioneering vision and our ambition to deliver sustainable legacy for all Parisians.”
Isabelle Autissier, President of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) France and Chair of the Paris 2024 Environmental Excellence Committee, said:
“The newly formed Paris 2024 Environmental Excellence Committee has an important role to play in shaping the bid vision to ensure best practices in sustainable development are met. We are delighted to get to work and our ambition to become the first Olympic bid in history to hold the ISO 20121 certificate highlights our commitment to deliver a green and sustainable Games.”
“Our mission is to ensure that the environmental ambition of the Paris 2024 bid is translated into concrete actions and I’m delighted that we can draw on the experience and knowledge of such a strong committee as we aim to make the Paris 2024 Games a sustainable model and a blueprint for future major sporting events.”
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