Athens 2004 disqualified from Green Olympics

We all heard the promises, so how come the Athens Games make few, if any, concessions to environmental protection and don't highlight any green solutions?

When Athens was still a candidate city, the official position of the Greek authorities was clear and straightforward, according to its bid the "Olympic Games are a challenge as well as an opportunity for the broad implementation of programs and actions which are environmentally friendly and in accordance to the principles of sustainable development...projects will be realized with the use of environmentally friendly technologies and materials, and this will be a prerequisite in all relevant tenders."

Such promises conjure up images of solar panels, recycled and non-toxic building materials however it seems they were just pipe dreams. With the exception of public transport, which has shown impressive improvements due to the Olympics, the environmental record of the Athens Olympic Games is very poor. Athens will undo much of the progress on environmental issues made for Sydney 2000.

Our campaign for the Sydney Games to be the first green games was instrumental in ensuring the 2000 Games showcased and promoted solutions to environmental problems. The solar powered athletes village was the world's largest solar suburb and was later sold as public housing. Solar powered venues meant lower costs and less global warming pollution. The reduction in use of PVC plastic in buildings showed that there are practical alternatives to this poison plastic.

One of our major victories was the Coke Spotlight campaign, which saw Olympic sponsor Coca-Cola meet our demands for a new refrigeration policy to reduce its impact on global climate change. The online campaign included downloadable stickers and letters to Coke. Only one month after the website went live, Coca-Cola committed to phasing in climate friendly refrigeration. We also targeted Unilever and McDonald's as part of our Greenfreeze campaign launched back in 1992. Instead of using global warming chemicals, Greenfreeze fridges use natural gases so avoids both depleting the ozone layer and fuelling global warming.

One of the few environmental bright spots of Athens - the fact that Olympic sponsors, Coca Cola, McDonald's, Unilever, have now committed to using Greenfreeze is down more to our campaign and pressure from online activists than the Athens Games organisers.

Environmental failings

So the lack of green commitment in Athens is even more shocking. Green energy is the most striking failure for the Athens Olympics. It was the intention that all electricity used by related premises and users during the Olympics in 2004 should be generated by renewables. For a country that markets it self as a country of endless sunshine, solar energy for the games shouldn't be so difficult. But green energy at the Games is close to zero.

"This list of failures in the environmental performance of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games shows that when there is no strong political will, failures will override wins. Athens is well behind Sydney regarding the environmental performance of the Games. The distance from environmental excellence and sustainability is so big that Athens is disqualified from this race," said Nikos Charalambides of Greenpeace Greece.

The International Olympics Committee (IOC) has the responsibility to ensure the Olympic Games have a minimum impact on the environment and leave a positive legacy for those hosting the Games. The Greek Government had the power, money and time to set the standards and ensure that the Green Olympics become a reality.

However, they have proven themselves short sighted and have aimed for the absolute minimum. Public authorities have shown a high level of indifference, incompetence and lack of action. The world is the loser at these games.


Find out more:

Read our briefing on the short falling of the Athens Olympic Games: Green - the missing link

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