Despite Greece's promises of making the 2004 Olympics the greenest ever - they are even less environmentally friendly than the Sydney Olympics
We all heard the promises, so how come the Athens Games make
few, ifany, concessions to environmental protection and don't
highlight anygreen solutions?
When Athens was still a candidate city, the official position of
theGreek authorities was clear and straightforward, according to
its bidthe "Olympic Games are a challenge as well as an opportunity
for thebroad implementation of programs and actions which are
environmentallyfriendly and in accordance to the principles of
sustainabledevelopment...projects will be realized with the use of
environmentallyfriendly technologies and materials, and this will
be a prerequisite inall relevant tenders."
Such promises conjure up images of solar panels, recycled
andnon-toxic building materials however it seems they were just
pipedreams. With the exception of public transport, which has
shownimpressive improvements due to the Olympics, the environmental
recordof the Athens Olympic Games is very poor. Athens will undo
much of theprogress 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 solutionsto environmental problems. The
solar powered athletes village was theworld's largest solar suburb
and was later sold as public housing.Solar powered venues meant
lower costs and less global warmingpollution. The reduction in use
of PVC plastic in buildings showed thatthere are practical
alternatives to this poison plastic.
One of our major victories was the Coke Spotlightcampaign,
which saw Olympic sponsor Coca-Cola meet our demands for anew
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 tophasing in climate friendly refrigeration. We
also targeted Unileverand McDonald's as part of our
Greenfreeze campaignlaunched back in 1992. Instead of using
global warming chemicals,Greenfreeze fridges use natural gases so
avoids both depleting theozone 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. Itwas the intention that all electricity used by related
premises andusers 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 energyat the Games is close to zero.
"This list of failures in the environmental performance of
theAthens 2004 Olympic Games shows that when there is no strong
politicalwill, failures will override wins. Athens is well behind
Sydneyregarding the environmental performance of the Games. The
distance fromenvironmental excellence and sustainability is so big
that Athens isdisqualified from this race," said Nikos
Charalambides of GreenpeaceGreece.
The International Olympics Committee (IOC) has the
responsibility toensure the Olympic Games have a minimum impact on
the environment andleave a positive legacy for those hosting the
Games. The GreekGovernment had the power, money and time to set the
standards andensure that the Green Olympics become a reality.
However, they have proven themselves short sighted and have
aimedfor the absolute minimum. Public authorities have shown a high
level ofindifference, incompetence and lack of action. The world is
the loserat 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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