"Playing for a Greener Future"!

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Qatar Olympic Committee (QNOC), hosted the 9th World Conference on Sport and the Environment this week in Doha, Qatar. Joining the hosts were over 650 participants representing National Olympic Committees (NOC), international federations (IF), the Olympic Games organizing committees of London 2012, Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016 and future Games candidate cities, who all raised their voices in a concerted effort to reiterate everyone’s concern with regards to the degradation of the world’s environment. Under the theme of “Playing for a Greener Future”, the Conference assessed the environmental success stories of the Olympic Movement; reflected on future challenges; and explored new opportunities of mainstreaming the environment in the world of sport.

While all participants reaffirmed their commitment to sustainable development, three principal focus areas known as the “Doha Declaration” emerged from the Conference, as the framework for activities related to the three pillars of sustainable development:

1. Economic
2. Social
3. Environment

Part of the plan for a greener future is to engage the youth, recognizing that young people play such an important role in society and in promoting sustainable development. To inspire young people around the world to participate in sports and adopt and live by the Olympic ideals, the IOC established the Youth Olympic Games (the inaugural Games held in Singapore in 2010). To continue on that vein, the conference partners will:

1. promote the involvement of young athletes in future World Conferences and continental seminars on Sport and Environment;
2. develop and support educational programs for young people on environment and sustainable development;
3. raise awareness of young people on sustainable development issues and to spread the Olympic ideals in their local communities through sports;
4. promote and support initiatives that engage the youth, particularly in under privileged communities, in sustainable development activities.

Contact SIRC for more information on sport and the environment!