Environmental Management and Monitoring for Sport Events and Facilities:
A Practical Toolkit for Managers

Prepared for

Department of Canadian Heritage
Sport Canada

By

Green & Gold Inc.

March 1999

Introduction

There is increasing recognition within the sport sector of the economic, health and environmental benefits of practising better environmental management. This has highlighted the need for tools to assist decision-makers. These valuable tools will help in setting priorities, improving performance and measuring performance in areas such as: resource consumption, emission of various pollutants, generation and disposal of waste and reduction of environmental risks.

This Toolkit is designed as an important contribution to the growing library of materials available; an introductory resource that supplements some of the more detailed resources. The focus of this Toolkit is on helping sports decision makers (principally event organisers, bid groups and facilities operators) to identify their key environmental issues, develop strategies to tackle them, set targets to focus their efforts, monitor progress and use the available information for continual improvement.

The Toolkit is divided into several sections, answering some precise questions:

1. What are the main environmental health and performance issues?
2. What steps can be taken to address these issues?
3. What are Environmental Performance Indicators, and how can they be effectively used to improve management and performance?
4. What illustrative examples and case studies exist?
5. What further resources and contacts exist?

Sports events and facilities come in many forms, and regional conditions can vary dramatically. This Toolkit has therefore been designed to help the user understand their own priority issues and develop their own strategies and performance indicators.

The Toolkit has been developed primarily to serve two categories of users: (i) major international and national games held in Canada; and (ii) single sport world and national championships held in Canada. Despite this primary focus, however, it will be equally useful to smaller event organisers and facilities operators.

Identifying the Issues

In order to manage and improve the environmental performance of a sports event, it is essential to have a general understanding of the most relevant issues. Many of the environment and health issues applicable to major games and single sport championships will be the same. Accordingly, this section begins with those shared issues and concludes with those issues that will be primarily, if not exclusively, relevant to major international games which frequently entail construction of new, purpose-built and typically permanent facilities.

Issues Common to Major Games and Championships

Air quality

The air quality issue has two aspects:

i. Protecting the health and performances of athletes by ensuring that air (both outdoor and indoor) is as safe and clean as possible. This entails choosing locations and times when air is the least polluted as well as working with local authorities (outdoor) to take steps to minimise pollution, and preventing indoor air from becoming contaminated by a range of pollutants and irritants such as solvents, formaldehyde from glues, tobacco smoke, etc.

ii. Minimising the contribution of sports events to air pollution by controlling or eliminating the release of pollutants such as exhaust smoke from heating plants, vehicles and generators, and pesticide spraying.

Water quality

Like air quality, the water quality issue has two aspects:

i. Protecting the health and performances of athletes by ensuring that water (both outdoor and indoor) is as safe and clean as possible. This entails choosing locations and times when open water is the least polluted as well as working with local authorities to take steps to minimise water pollution. Indoor water (pools) must similarly be safe from infectious disease but at the same time not be so heavily chemical-laden as to put athletes at risk from overexposure to chemicals.

ii. Minimising the contribution of sports events to water pollution by, for example, controlling or eliminating the release of polluted water from sports facilities, limiting soil erosion into rivers and lakes, and preventing pesticides and fertilizers from leaching into ground and surface water.

Land and Water Use

Sports events and the facilities designed to host them can be substantial consumers of land and water. If new sports facilities are built on land that is valuable as wildlife habitat, urban green space, protected wilderness or for agriculture, it can have a negative environmental impact. Similarly, events and facilities, which take place on water, can contribute to erosion, destruction of habitat and disturbance of nesting/breeding grounds. Many sports also consume large quantities of water (i.e. golf courses, pools, ice surfaces, snowmaking for skiing), contributing to water scarcity.

However, through good planning and appropriate choices, sports events/facilities can contribute to the rehabilitation of otherwise polluted or abandoned land and polluted bodies of water. Urban industrial sites and closed landfills have actually been turned into the sites of sports fields and even major events.

Waste Management

A typical byproduct of major events is a major amount of waste. Waste can be generated by participants and spectators through event-related activities such as the consumption of food and a wide range of supplies and materials used in hosting an event. In addition, on a larger scale, waste is produced in the construction of permanent sports facilities and the creation and disposal of temporary installations. Through good waste management practices like reduction, reuse, recycling and composting, a major event can easily cut in half its creation of waste and the associated costs.

Energy Management

Almost all events and facilities consume energy, some in significant amounts. Operating lighting and sound systems, heating and cooling buildings, creating ice, filtering and pumping pool water and making artificial snow are among the most energy-intensive activities. In all of these cases there are opportunities to reduce energy consumption and its costs through conservation and energy management strategies. While reducing demand for energy, sports events and facilities can also reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases responsible for global climate change.

Facility use

The most significant environmental impacts of sports facility use in addition to those already discussed (air and water pollution, land and water use, energy consumption and waste generation), include turf management methods, landscaping, and noise, light and visual pollution.

Transportation services

A prominent aspect of sports events is the large demand for moving people and equipment between locations. When transportation services are badly planned and implemented, the result can be noise, smog, congestion and delays. When performed well, people can be moved efficiently and quietly with minimal demand for private vehicles and parking and with a relatively small contribution to air pollution and traffic jams.

Accommodation services

Accommodation requirements touch on a wide range of cross-cutting facility and operational issues. These include energy and water consumption, indoor air and water quality, waste management, transportation, purchasing choices and hazardous materials avoidance and disposal.

Issues for Major Games Entailing Facilities Construction

The major distinction between major, multi-sport games such as the Olympic, Pan Am and Commonwealth Games, and single sport world and national championships is the demand placed by the former for construction of new facilities. Perhaps only the World Cup of soccer can place a similar demand.

With facilities construction comes the opportunity to make choices which can significantly reduce environmental impact through resource consumption, waste generation, land use and various forms of pollution. The critical point for good environmental performance comes at the planning stage, when decisions are made regarding the need for new facilities (or for renovation/retrofitting), the type of facilities required and their sustainability following the event, their performance and durability, and the impact of their various components (i.e. materials, mechanical systems, etc.).

The concept of sustainable design or designing for sustainability preaches that good choices made at the design stage will have far more impact than any number of later add-ons.

Facility and Accommodation design

The principal environmental issues for designing facilities and accommodations are similar:

whether to build or renovate;
where to build;
he most appropriate type of facility for the major event and afterwards;
ways to design for conservation of energy, water and other natural resources both in construction and operation; and
choices of high-performance materials and systems which have less environmental impact in their production, use and disposal.

Transportation design

An efficient, less polluting transportation system is also a manifestation of good planning. Issues to be considered in design transportation for a major event include:

how to maximise ridership on public/mass transit;
how to minimise use of private vehicles between and around venues;
how to encourage active forms of transit (cycling, walking, etc.); and
ways to use cleaner fuels in fleet vehicles and to maximise fuel efficiency.

Developing an Action Plan

Environmental Management Systems

With a general understanding of the most pertinent issues it is possible to prepare an Action Plan which will manage and monitor the environmental performance of a sport event. However, before choosing the action items, an event organiser would do well to create a proper environmental management system to ensure effective development and execution of the plan.

The following sections outline the structural and conceptual groundwork needed to create an Action Plan.

Organisational Structure

A good structure for environmental management takes a top-down and bottom-up approach. First, support for this shift to sustainable practices must come from the top. Not only must the most senior people be interested in the cause, they must be seen to be so. Second, people throughout the organisation must be and feel part of such an initiative. This requires that all members of the organisation be involved in the development, implementation, monitoring and enforcement of the initiative (see Appendix A item (ii) under Environmental Management Systems).

Environmental Policy

An organisation committed to better environmental management must first define its goals. Once this is accomplished, it is necessary to elaborate the policies, strategies and initiatives by which the goals will be achieved. A policy statement should be supplemented with a series of specific objectives and, where possible, with assignments of responsibility as well as deadlines for completion (see Appendix A).

Specific Objectives and Targets

Only by knowing the state of the environment before applying measures can an organisation set any objectives. It is important to carry out an environmental audit (i.e. energy and water consumption and waste generation) of facilities and operations to ascertain to what extent they are in compliance with environmental regulations and to establish a "baseline" or starting point for your initiatives. From the results of the audit, determine the specific targets and monitor these as often as is viable in order to assess your progress as well as identify trouble spots and areas of opportunity.

Selecting Relevant Issues

A truly effective plan will attempt to identify a list of priority issues. Items on that priority list, and their order, will be determined by several factors:

With such a priority list, it is then possible to develop an Action Plan for managing and monitoring environmental performance. This Toolkit presents two Action Plans. The first, which is the Basic Action Plan, lists the most essential issues. The Comprehensive Action Plan for a major games or single sport championship is far more extensive and addresses all the issues that were raised in the first section of this Toolkit.

With the guidance provided by the organisational environmental policy, it will be possible to develop a concrete tailored Action Plan. In the next sections you can prioritise the Action Items relevant to your situation based on the factors mentioned above.

Elements of a Basic Action Plan

Not all events/organisations will require a comprehensive Environmental Action Plan, nor will they necessarily have the knowledge or resources to implement one. For smaller events, and those new to environmental management, a basic Action Plan may be sufficient. It is often better to tackle a smaller number of top priority issues, and to do a good job, than to achieve mixed results on an overly ambitious list of issues.

A Basic Action Plan comprising those issues that any event/organisation should attempt to deal with is proposed below. A more extensive sample Environmental Action Plan is attached (Appendix A) to illustrate the scope of issues that might be addressed by a medium or larger sport event.

Basic Action Plan

Elements of a Comprehensive Action Plan

The Comprehensive Action Plan addresses all of the issues outlined in the first section of the Toolkit. This extensive list is meant for major events such as international and national games or championships. When selecting your Action Items keep in mind that it may be better to achieve success with a few items than to try to cover all the possible actions in a superficial way.

Implementing the Action Plan

The challenge of moving from Action Plan to implementation is for many groups the most daunting. Common obstacles include (a) insufficient knowledge; (b) a lack of resources (financial and human); and (c) the perception of some managers that an environmental programme is somehow a "frill" or a distraction from the main tasks.

Acquiring Information and Technical Assistance

Few sport organisations have much experience in environmental management techniques. The absence of in-house expertise should not, however, be an impediment to addressing environmental issues. Many of the basic concepts of environmental management are little more than good materials and resource management. A number of books and short courses (i.e. community college) will provide sufficient information to start down the environmental management road. Much can also be obtained via the Internet.

Should it be impractical to develop in-house capability beyond a certain point, a number of local resources are typically available. Staff and students at local colleges and universities might provide direction or hands-on assistance. Many may actually be encouraged to volunteer or serve on an environment committee. Similarly, professional environmental consulting services can also be contracted or even obtained pro bono as part of a sponsorship arrangement.

A growing literature is also available specifically on the topic of "greening" sports events and facilities. Look to web sites and documents from sports governing bodies, academics and professionals for guidance in this blossoming area (see Resources and Contacts).

Finding Resources

While many steps to address environmental issues will cost very little, and some will actually save money, a number will require an investment. Renovating, retrofitting, buying advanced technologies and improving infrastructure will cost money, even if long-term savings will outweigh the initial investment. Devoting staff time to environmental management may also be a significant cost.

Although most expenses can be justified economically, and not just because they are the environmentally-appropriate course to take, money must nevertheless be found for initial capital costs. Support for environmental initiatives might be secured from public programs and grants, although these funds are dwindling. Foundations are another helpful source.

The most significant potential source of funding, however, is sponsorship. Corporate support for sport is a proven commodity. So, to a lesser degree, is support for environmental causes. Linking sport with the environment, though a very new concept, is proving to be a new and popular approach for corporate sponsors. Traditional supporters of sport now concerned with their environmental image and actions, as well as environmentally-progressive companies not traditionally approached by sports, are both proving to be a powerful source of funding and in-kind support for "green" sports programmes.

Making the Case for Going Green

A long-held view among managers is that environmental initiatives, however laudable, will be expensive and time consuming. They are often either dismissed, placed on the back burner, or given inadequate attention or funding. The challenge for champions of greening sports events, is thus to make the case for environmental programs and dispel the lingering myths. Scores of organisations are proving that good environmental management is either revenue neutral or ultimately a source of savings or new opportunities. In addition, taking the green road can be shown to have a wide range of benefits:

reduced risks, leading to lower insurance and clean-up costs;
improved morale among staff and volunteers;
greater appeal to sponsors, donors and partners;
faster approvals and fewer delays;
increased public support; and
better conditions for sport leading to improved performances and better overall health of athletes

There is no single guaranteed formula for implementing an Action Plan. Conditions are too varied and unpredictable. Nevertheless, any sports group would do well to follow several basic principles:

Case Studies

The following Case Studies illustrate how different event organisers chose to focus on issues of particular importance to them and their community. A more thorough example of an Action Plan can be found in Appendix E: a copy of the Environmental Management Plan for the 1997 Ryder Cup's Committed to Green ^TM initiative.

Appendix C: Environmental Guidelines for the Summer Olympic Games (September 1993) - illustrates the wide range of issues being tackled by organisers of the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics.

Appendix D: Canada Games Council's Environmental Bid Criteria - demonstrates how a governing body has chosen to stimulate environmental action among bidders and, ultimately, hosts of future Canada Games.

1999 Canada Winter Games in Corner Brook

Corner Brook, Newfoundland the smallest community to ever hold the Canada Games proved it was up to the challenge. The Host Society also took on the challenge of producing the most extensive environmental action plan to date at a Canada Games. With little financial resources, the environmental committee developed several effective initiatives that relied on community partnerships and in-kind donations. The following is the Action Plan that was created by the Host Society.

Objective: To promote environmental responsibility and awareness prior to, during and after the 1999 Canada Winter Games. This will be done by:

training all games staff in green office practices and green purchasing;
training all volunteers in the environmental initiatives of the 1999 Games (e.g. direct participants and spectators to recycling bins);
implementing a recycling program for the Athlete's Village as well as at all sports venues;
composting all food wastage generated from the cafeteria;
minimising waste by purchasing items that may be reused (e.g. water bottles) and/or become a legacy after the Games (e.g. recycling bins);
encouraging all spectators to use public transportation and/or car pool to decrease traffic congesting, noise pollution and exhaust;
implementing a no idling policy for all Games vehicles;
minimising paper waste through double-side copying, electronic mail and computer faxing;
minimising water use through low-flow showerheads and other waste-saving devices within the Village;
conserving energy through energy-efficient bulbs, timers, etc.; and,
in conjunction with Sport Canada we will be preparing a list of indicators to evaluate our success with environmental initiatives at the Games. This will be added to a report that will also give guidelines/checklists for tackling environmental issues at future events.

1995 World Nordic Games

Students at Confederation College took advantage of Thunder Bay hosting the 1995 World Nordic Games to launch a number of environmental initiatives. Two college departments (Environmental Engineering Technology and Recreation Leadership) jointly conducted a waste management audit in advance of the event. College environmental groups set up information booths during the Games on composting, recycling and native species gardening.

They also:

demonstrated how recycling organic wastes can be used as an alternative energy source;
printed and distributed waste management strategies to hotel owners;
printed and distributed recycling information sheets to guests and spectators; and,
handed out information regarding bus schedules and shuttle services, to encourage the use of public transportation.

Winterlude Triathlon

For practical and financial reasons, rather than explicitly environmental, organisers of Ottawa's Winterlude triathlon in the late 80s and early 90s, took the approach of minimising waste, maximising resource efficiency and guaranteeing optimal health conditions for participants. The end result was a remarkably "green" event. Organiser Glenda Jones was matter of fact about their approach: "If we don't protect the environment, we can't hold the event". The triathlon is held primarily on public parkland where rules regarding litter, damage to natural habitat and the disturbance of wildlife all apply.

Steps taken for environmental and economic reasons, as well as to protect the health of the participants, included:

mapping out courses to avoid sensitive spots;
conducting a thorough clean-up after the event;
keeping the size of the participants' race kit small;
using recycled paper;
advising out-of-town competitors to use a toll-free number for hotel/tourism information in place of mailing large packages of brochures;
arranging start times to avoid bus fumes along the running course;
banning the idling of vehicles;
forbidding smoking at the start/finish line;
producing t-shirts for racers the night before to assure the right number;
purchasing local products (less transportation), in bulk (less packaging);
doing without an "unnecessary" start/finish banner;
producing signs on reusable corrugated plastic backing; and,
handing out small medals and "useful" gifts and prizes.

How to Monitor and Document Results

What are Environmental Performance Indicators?

Environmental Performance Indicators (EPIs) measure and indicate some aspect of environmental performance and/or resource use. For example, an EPI may provide information on:

how efficiently an organisation uses energy, water, or other materials;
how quickly an organisation is reducing air emissions or water consumption;
what types of waste are being reduced.

By measuring, reporting and communicating your organisation's environmental performance, you can address public concerns about your environmental performance, drive internal change and develop a more efficient organisation through environmental leadership.

For the sake of simplicity, this Toolkit uses the term Environmental Performance Indicators (abbreviated as EPIs) to cover the range of indicators that might be considered purely environmental as well as those that cover resource use and environment-related impacts on human health.

Current use of EPIs in sport

Although the growing professionalism of sports management is contributing to the adoption of more rigorous practices and management systems, use of EPIs is still in its infancy. EPIs are nevertheless being developed for and applied to sports requirements; chiefly in the design of new facilities, but to some extent in the operation of facilities and the hosting of major events.

EPI Use by Sports Facilities

Several types of sports facilities use indicators that help identify, monitor and make improvements in areas of greatest relevance. Examples include:

EPI Use by Sports Events

Several recent events provide examples of EPI use. The 1994 Victoria Commonwealth Games chose a small but manageable number of indicators to measure the impact of the Games and of the environmental initiatives in such key areas as waste diversion and use of public transit.

The 1996 Atlanta Summer Games, though not particularly ambitious in the scope of its environmental initiatives, did monitor and release figures for waste diversion (recycling and composting) and public transit use. It has fallen to Sydney to provide the first full environmental "benchmarking" exercise (establishing an initial measure or standard against which to measure future events) for any sports event. In its first State of the Environment Report (1996), the Olympic Co-ordination Authority for Sydney established an initial set of indicators both for environmental health and performance issues. Examples include: indicators of current air, water and soil quality; quantifiable figures for the remediation of contaminated land; and performance indicators for the consumption and conservation of energy and water.

Several international sports federations are now developing a select number of EPIs, typically motivated by the desire to guarantee a minimum standard of health for competitors. The International Cycling Union is showing leadership in this area, and the International Triathlon Union has on several occasions emphasised the need to better protect its athletes through minimum water quality standards. EPI's will clearly need to be fleshed out to assist in these efforts.

Examples of EPIs for events include:

Selecting Appropriate Indicators

EPIs can be put to practical use by event organisers and facility operators for monitoring specific issues. The information gleaned can help to:

prioritise and direct improvement efforts;
track resource consumption over time;
track environmental performance and improvements over time;
assess the impact of new practices and investments;
compare the performance of one event to another through benchmarking; and,
evaluate health-related environmental conditions and use this to select dates and locations.

Because each user group will have its own set of priorities, it is not useful to propose a universal list of the most important indicators. Rather, each user will need to review the list of potential EPIs (see Appendix B) to select those that are most useful in meeting his/her goals and objectives. Factors that will influence that decision might include; regional pollution concerns, goals and objectives of the managing bodies, concerns of stakeholders, availability of data, and the cost (if any) of obtaining that data.

The following diagram illustrates a process for selecting appropriate EPIs:

The process may be followed just once in the case of a once-only event, or repeated for regular events or permanent facilities which monitor indicators over time.

Indicator Categories

This Toolkit proposes indicators which fall into three categories:

Health conditions

Indicators of how healthy the environment is for competition in a particular location or within a particular facility (i.e. air and water quality).

Environmental conditions

Indicators of the state of environmental health, which help to determine the potential fragility of a particular location and monitor the impact that a sports event/facility has had during construction, operation, etc. (i.e. soil erosion, presence of wildlife).

Environmental performance

Indicators of resource consumption and activity with potential environmental impact, both positive and negative (i.e. energy consumption, level of pesticide use).

Proposed Environmental Performance Indicators

Since each organisation will have its own priorities and resource limitations, it will want to choose what issues to focus on and to what depth it will track its progress. Smaller organisations/facilities and one-time events may want to develop a smaller list of EPIs, closely integrated with the activities and targets it has identified in its Action Plan. Larger events/facilities and repeat events with more ambitious and wider ranging Action Plans will want to use a correspondingly longer list of EPIs to track their progress and spur continual improvement.

In recognition of the diverse needs of its users, this Toolkit presents two sets of EPIs:

The first (below) is a Basic List of EPIs, which almost any event/facility should treat as a bare minimum. This list corresponds with the Basic Action Plan proposed and key indicators are suggested for measuring progress in implementing it.

The second (Appendix B - Proposed Environmental Performance Indicators for Sports Events and Facilities) is a more comprehensive list of EPIs, upon which an organisation can draw to help address its particular environmental priorities.

Basic Environmental Performance Indicators

Environmental Policy
Is there an Environmental Policy?
Has it been approved at the top of the organisation?
Has it been communicated to and discussed with staff, volunteers and the public?

Objectives and Targets
Have objectives and targets been defined and communicated?
Are they measurable?
Have they been achieved?

Green Office
Has a basic Green Office program been created and communicated?
What percentage of recycling, composting, etc, has been achieved?
What percentage of purchases is "environmentally preferable"?

Waste Reduction at Venues
Volume of waste generated?
Volume and percentage (by type) of total waste that is diverted through recycling, reuse or composting?

Involving Suppliers, Sponsors and Donors
Is a program set up to involve partners in the Green program?
Are there compulsory practices/codes/standards for all partners and/or their products?
How many partners participate in the Green program?

Transportation
Number and % of venues accessible by public/active transport?
Number and % of participants (by category, i.e. athletes, spectators) using public/active means?
Number and % using private vehicles?

Health Conditions
Levels of air pollution/smog/UV intensity before and during the event?
Levels of various pollutants (formaldehyde, carbon monoxide) present in indoor air at each venue?
Are pesticides used at venues?
Types, amounts and most recent application of pesticides at a venue?
Water quality measures (outdoor and indoor) at each water sport venue (i.e. coliform count, free and total chlorine levels)

Resource Conservation
Average energy consumption levels, and related costs, before and during the event, at each facility?
Measures taken to reduce energy consumption?
Levels of reduction achieved (kWh and %) by these measures?
Average water consumption levels, and related costs, before and during the event, at each facility?
Measures taken to reduce water consumption?
Levels of reduction (volume and %) achieved by these measures?

Habitat Protection
Area of sensitive/protected land opened up for sport use during or after event?
Area of sensitive/protected land protected from harm as a result of the event?
Number of native trees or other plants cut and/or replanted?

Education/Publicity
Number and types of education and publicity initiatives undertaken?
Number of media stories?
Size of audience reached?
Number of participants in environment-related initiatives?

Case Studies

Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympic Games

Although much-maligned for problems with its transportation system, the 1996 Atlanta Olympics successfully implemented and monitored a number of transportation and waste management initiatives with visible positive environmental consequences.

Efforts to encourage residents and visitors to ride the public transit system worked so well that an estimated 1.3 million spectators took buses and/or the subway each day - nearly 4 times the daily average prior to the Olympics.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recorded a 15 percent dip in air pollution levels for that time of year, the opposite of what was anticipated.

Recycling and composting initiatives resulted in a 50 percent diversion level during the 16 days of the Games, and a remarkable 82 percent diversion during the best 8 days.

Committed to Green

The European Golf Association's environmental management programme for golf courses and events -- Committed to Green ? allows courses and events to seek certification if they can demonstrate progress according to indicators in nine categories:

1. General environmental planning
2. Nature conservation
3. Landscape and cultural heritage
4. Water resource management
5. Turfgrass management
6. Waste management
7. Energy efficiency and purchasing policies
8. Education and the working environment
9. Communications and public awareness

Having established benchmarks and targets in these categories, certified organisations will have to demonstrate continued progress in order to be eligible for re-certification once every three years. EPIs will be an important tool in managing, monitoring and documenting progress.

1993 Canada Games

The Canada Games held in Kamloops, B.C. was an example medium sized event that did not have the resources to develop an extensive environmental action plan. However, the organising committee did focus on a few initiatives, publicising them well and following through on commitments. The notable ventures included:

- a recycling program that proved to be almost too popular. While waste was definitely diverted, potential revenue from the aluminum cans was lost as enterprising children raided the receptacles.

- a public transportation program. The City of Kamloops arranged for more frequent bus services to key sites and offered special passes for the two weeks of the Games. Ridership increased significantly during this period.

- using non-disposable dishes and utensils. An army of dishwashing volunteers was required to work in shifts but tens of thousands of plates, bowls and utensils were diverted from the local landfill.

Resources and Contacts

Publications

A group of U.S. and Canadian golf & environmental groups. 1996. Environmental Principles for golf courses in the United States. United States Golf Association

Chernushenko, D. 1994. Greening Our Games: Running Sports Events and Facilities that Won't Cost the Earth. The Delphi Group, Ottawa (1-800-511-9999 and www.greengold.on.ca)

European Golf Association. 1997. The committed to green handbook for golf courses. Pisces Publications. (www.golfecology.com)

Fisheries and Oceans, Department of the Environment, and FRAP. Greening your B.C. golf course: A guide to environmental management.

Immig, J.S. Rish and S. Brown. 1997. Indoor air quality guidelines for Sydney Olympic facilities. Sydney, NSW: CSIRO Publishing.

International Olympic Committee. 1997. Manual on sport and the environment.

Ministry of the Environment. 1998. Environmental Performance and Competitive Advantage, Government of Ontario.

Olympic Co-ordination Authority (OCA). 1998. State of the Environment 1997. Sydney, NSW.

------. 1997. State of the Environment 1996. Sydney, NSW: Olympic Co-ordination Authority.

------. 1997d. Compendium of ESD initiatives and outcomes for OCA facilities and venues 1 (December). Sydney, NSW: Olympic Co-ordination Authority.

Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA). 1993. Environmentally responsible golf - Environmental guidelines for Canadian golf clubs. RCGA.

Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG). 1998. Our environment - Our legacy (Video). Sydney, NSW: SOCOG.

Websites

The Sustainable Sports Source http://www.greengold.on.ca with links to numerous other web sites and resources besides those listed below

Building Design and Construction
Green Building Information Council http://greenbuilding.ca
Green Building Resource Guide http://www.greenguide.com
Environmental Building News http://www.ebuild.com

Certification Bodies
Canadian Environmental Choice Programme http://www.terrachoice.ca
U.S. Green Seal Program http://www.greenseal.org

Golf
European Golf Association - Ecology Unit http://golfecology.com
Golf Course Superintendents Association of America http://www.gcsaa.org
The United States Golf Association's Green Section
http://www.usga.org/green

Government
Environment Canada http://www.ec.gc.ca
Department of Canadian Heritage - Sport Canada
http://www.pch.gc.ca/sportcanada/Sc_e/
US Environmental Protection Agency http://www.epa.gov
US Environmental Protection Agency Indoor Air Quality Info
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/iaqinfo.html

Health Issues
The Weather Network http://www.theweathernetwork.com
Environment Canada http://www.ec.gc.ca

International Federations
International Cycling Union (UCI)
http://www.uci.ch/english/town/uciguide.htm

Olympics
International Olympic Committee http://www.olympic.org/
Olympic Co-ordination Authority http://www.oca.nsw.gov.au/
Salt Lake City Organizing Committee for the Olympic Winter Games of 2002
http://www/slc2002.org/main.html
Sydney Organising Committee for the 2000 Olympic Games
www.sydney.olympic.org/environment/environment.html

Sports Event Organisers
1999 Winnipeg Pan Am Games http://www.panamgames.org

Contacts for Canadian Air Quality

Appendix A: A General Environmental Action Plan

Environmental Management Systems

(i) Define an environmental policy which sets out a clear list of goals (reasons for greening the games) and objectives (means by which the goals are to be achieved). The planning and preparation process will be guided by this policy.

Such a policy and goals might read as follows:

"The Bid Committee (or Host Society) is committed to organising and staging our event in a manner that is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable"

To achieve this end, we will pursue the following goals:

1. Build, retrofit and upgrade facilities in a way that is appropriate to the long-term needs of the community and which minimises any impact on the natural environment;
2. Minimise the consumption of resources (energy, water, materials, etc.), toxic or hazardous materials, and the creation of waste;
3. Provide athletes, officials and spectators with a healthy environment for practice and competition;
4. Contribute to the maintenance and restoration of local environmental health;
5. Encourage and showcase innovative ideas, solutions and technologies;
6. Create a legacy of heightened environmental awareness and new skills and practices within the local community and among participants and spectators nationwide.

Specific objectives will be defined in each issue area (i.e. waste management, energy reduction, purchasing) and for each venue (i.e. athletes village, games offices, facilities).

(ii)Draw up an Organisational Chart for managing environmental issues, ensuring that there is a clear procedure for reporting. Such a chart would designate at least one member of Management Committee and/or Board of Directors as 'stewards' of environmental initiatives. Ensure that the critical role of volunteers is reflected in the Organisational Chart.

Accountability and ultimate responsibility for environmental issues and initiatives would rest with a vice president or equivalent (ideally Administration/Finance or Facilities) who would report regularly to the Management Committee and the Board. A staff environmental co-ordinator would perform day-to-day tasks, including co-ordinating a volunteer "Green Team", and would report to one of the vice presidents named above via the appropriate manager, or directly if necessary. An Environment/ Sustainability Committee would include several key vice presidents, members from such departments or committees as purchasing, facilities and finance, the environmental co-ordinator, and several "Green Team" volunteers.

(iii) Create a Green Team category for volunteers and actively recruit for this role. Allow volunteers to choose the Green Team as the group they would like to work with. Give these volunteers the opportunity to contribute ideas to the planning process as well as during the Games.

(iv) Carry out an environmental audit (i.e. energy and water consumption and waste generation) of facilities and work with provincial and local agencies and utilities to identify opportunities for energy and water conservation, waste management and reducing the risk of hazardous waste contamination.

The bid/organising group could commit itself in the following way: "We will carry out an environmental audit (waste, energy, water, risk assessment) of all facilities upon being selected to host the [event]. The baseline information acquired will be used to monitor performance during the event and quantify improvements that may result from renovations, upgrades and new systems."

The Green Office
(i) All offices should adopt Green Office practices (see Greening Our Games, pp. 115-127 for more detail).
(ii) An emphasis should be placed on: reducing printed material; re-using paper; ensuring that all recyclable materials are collected appropriately; and purchasing supplies that are re-usable, durable, high in recycled content and recyclable.

Materials & Waste Management
(i) Develop a waste management strategy for each facility and all operations divisions identifying how they can reduce, reuse, recycle and compost.
(ii) Use procurement and purchasing contracts to request items that will produce the least waste, with an emphasis on reduced packaging.
(iii) Ensure that all recycling facilities have large, uniform signage with clear instructions to avoid contamination by non-recyclable items. Design signage and containers with subsequent re-use in mind. Ensure regular collection to avoid unsightly overflows.
(iv) Explore the potential for compostable or recyclable dishes and tableware where re-usable crockery and utensils are not available.
(v) Develop a system for providing press releases, event results and background documents to chefs-de-mission, officials, VIPs and the media electronically and/or in written form by request only.
(vi) Do an inventory of planned printed programmes, guides, and tourism information. Consolidate so as to limit overlap and cut waste and costs.
(vii) Examine providing box lunches (for athletes/officials) to eliminate waste.
(viii) Place receptacles for battery and film canister recycling in areas frequented by media. Use clear signs.
(ix) Keep marketing techniques consistent with the waste reduction goal.
(x) Evaluate all merchandise against the principles of durability and appropriate material content.
(xi) Hold a post-event auction for disposing of left-over materials. Explore first, however, the possibility of passing on items to the next event host. A set of generic signage might be passed from one host to another.
(xii) Send tourism information packages to ticket purchasers, participants, media and others on request only.

Sponsors, Donors & Suppliers
(i) Engage sponsors, donors and suppliers as partners in the effort to green the event. Invite them to propose ways they might reduce the impact of their materials, products or services.
(ii) Create a Green Roll of Honour to publicise the efforts made by these partners.
(iii) Seek sponsorship from non-traditional organisations whose gifts-in-kind will contribute to greening the games while getting them publicity. For example, makers/distributors of low-flow fixtures and energy efficient light bulbs.

Transportation
(i) Promote the use of public transportation through strong publicity, and free access for accredited persons (media, officials, and volunteers) and ticket holders on the day of the event.
(ii) Limit the use of single-passenger shuttles by officials and media by "pooling".
(iii) Avoid "dedicated" cars for VIPs. Include them in the shuttle service in all but extreme cases.
(iv) Enforce a "no idling policy" at all venues and the athletes' village.

Facilities Operations
(i) Focus on steps to reduce consumption of energy and water.
(ii) Carry out energy and water audits in all facilities. Encourage local utilities to capitalise on the publicity of the event to gain exposure for their programs and services.
(iii) Seek sponsorship and gifts in kind for conservation efforts. Emphasise the long-term legacy and potential publicity and downstream sales.

Event Services
(i) Accommodation: Implement energy and water conservation steps and waste management strategies in the athletes' village and privately-run accommodations by working with accommodation managers and private-sector partners.
(ii) Food: Work with any venue-based cafeterias and concession operators to help them address relevant environmental and waste-related issues.
(iii) Volunteers: Focus on training and team building for "Green Team" volunteers. Ensure, however, that all volunteers are aware of the Green Games objectives and initiatives.
(iv) Signs & Banners: Explore the idea of a generic, transferable set of signs and banners for use at future events. Also seek groups (schools, community events, etc.) who might re-use certain signs.

Ceremonies and Cultural Events
(i) Implement all waste management proposals at cultural and ceremonial events and venues.
(ii) Strongly encourage the use of public transportation to shows and opening/closing ceremonies.

Promotion and Public Relations
(i) Well in advance of the event, and again just prior to them, inform the general public of the overall goals of a Green event, the specific steps that are planned and their rationale.
(ii) Set up a "Green line" phone number for any suggestions, comments and complaints.
(iii) Prominently inform all participants (athletes, officials and media) of the Green event initiative and provide them with checklists on how they can contribute.
(iv) Develop a media strategy that is open and honest. Focus on the positive steps taken before and during the event, and their legacy.
(v) Organise a press conference on Greening the event, with several of those most closely involved in attendance to explain the initiative.
(vi) Organise a seminar for future hosts, sports officials and the media on "How to Green Your Event".

Media & Information
(i) Inform the media through their press kits of the Green event initiative and of steps that will affect them. Invite them to be "partners" and to offer their suggestions.
(ii) Invite local media organisations to provide free Public Service Announcements on Green event topics.
(iii) Reduce the paper given out to the media. Develop a system for providing background papers and event results to media "on demand". Explore electronic options.

Games Legacy
(i) Focus on safeguarding air, soil, water and habitat.
(ii) Consider infrastructure such as energy systems, water conservation devices and recycling bins and systems as an important legacy to the community.
(iii) Encourage new habits and approaches among volunteers and participants that they can take back to their places of work and homes.
(iv) Involve community groups in pre-event, post-event and nightly clean-ups. Consider potential sponsors so that they can use this as a fund-raising means.
(v) Monitor and record how successfully individual initiatives function. This will provide baseline data for future events.

Appendix B: Proposed Environmental Performance Indicators for Sports Events and Facilities

How to Use this Table

Each column performs a specific function, as follows:

Legend: n.a. = not applicable tbd = to be determined

APPENDIX C:

ENVIRONMENTAL GUIDELINES - SYDNEY OLYMPIC GAMES

The following is a summary of the commitments made by Sydney in the Environmental Guidelines for the Summer Olympic Games (September 1993).

A. Planning & Construction of Olympic Facilities

Sydney is committed to:

thorough assessment of opportunities to use or adapt existing facilities, together with consideration of the long term financial viability of all new facilities

building and infrastructure design that considers environmental issues

environmental and social impact assessment, with community participation in the planning process

planning to minimise any adverse impacts of Olympic sites & events on nearby residents

care being taken to protect native bushland, forests, wetlands, fauna or threatened ecosystems

all new Olympic projects being in accordance with environmental planning instruments prepared under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act

all new Olympic projects being constructed, wherever possible, on previously used industrial and commercial sites so that undeveloped land remains untouched

all Olympic sites being accessible by public transport

companies tendering for construction contracts being required to submit details demonstrating how they will satisfy the requirements of the Environmental Guidelines

selection of building components for new projects being subject to life-cycle costing and consideration of environmental implications during manufacture, use and disposal.

B. Energy Conservation

Sydney is committed to:

the use of ferries to provide transport for spectators, VIPs, athletes and media between Sydney Olympic Park and the Sydney Harbour Zone

establishment of satellite parking areas at major bus and rail interchanges

provision of cycle ways and pedestrian walk ways linked to public transport interchanges

passive solar building design wherever appropriate

selection of materials for thermal performance

use of insulation and natural ventilation

the widest possible use of renewable sources of energy

high efficiency lighting systems with maximised use of natural light

use of energy efficient appliances

use of recycled and recyclable building materials

use of building management and control systems to minimise energy requirements

zoning of mechanical ventilation to allow ventilation flow to be switched off when spaces are unoccupied

C. Water Conservation

Sydney is committed to:

encouragement of sound sustainable water resource management through public and industry education programs

water conservation and recycling practices

introduction of pricing policies that reflect the real cost of supplying water

recycling of treated storm water and sewage effluent

landscape design that decreases water requirements by emphasis on selection of plants appropriate to climate

use of water conservation devices such as dual flush toilet systems, roof-fed water tanks, water-saving shower roses, and appropriate irrigation devices

selection of low-water use appliances including dishwashers & washing machines

building and infrastructure design to collect waste water for recycling

protecting the usability of recycled water by minimising the use of pesticides in landscape maintenance

use of artificial wetlands or other appropriate methods to remove pollutants from waste water prior to recycling

D. Waste Avoidance and Minimisation

Sydney is committed to:

best practice waste reduction and avoidance, with performance criteria to apply to services, materials and appliances

the co-operation of sponsors and service providers in developing responsible corporate purchasing and waste management policies

best practice recycling of waste including use of colour-coded waste recycling stations, use of compost from organic waste in landscaping, use of recycled paper, and public education on waste minimisation.

E. Air, Water and Soil Quality

Sydney is committed to:

the selection wherever practicable of materials and processes that are non-toxic in use such as natural fibre insulation, and non-toxic paints, glues, varnishes, polishes, solvents and cleaning products

improved procedures at Olympic sites to minimise toxic fume emission and out-gassing from paints, carpets, glues and pest control practices

use of building techniques and interior design that minimise the need for chemical pest control and maximise opportunities for integrated pest management

use of CFC, HFC and HCFC-free refrigerants and processes

elimination of leaded fuels

minimising and ideally avoiding the use of chlorine based product (organochlorines) such as PCBs, PVC and chlorine bleached paper

the water quality of mangrove, estuarine and saltmarsh environments near Sydney Olympic Park being protected during construction by erosion and run-off controls

comprehensive contamination testing of former industrial sites being redeveloped for the Olympic games, with remediation and risk reduction programs as appropriate.

F. Protecting Significant Natural and Cultural Environments

Sydney is committed to:

preservation and protection of the integrity of natural ecosystems adjacent to Olympic sites including native bushland, forest and waterways

assessment of habitat and species with special attention to endangered species and ecosystems subject to international conservation treaties

landscape programs that minimise disruption of wildlife habitat, protect indigenous plant species, with selection of species to complement existing habitats

rehabilitation of wetlands

control of feral animals and weed invasion

establishment of buffer zones between venues and conservation areas

establishment of a management plan for the protection of natural ecosystems

use of low wash ferry transport to minimise impact on mangrove ecosystems

G. Olympic Events

Sydney is committed to:

assist business to conform to Olympic requirements by establishment of an expert panel with membership drawn from the business, government & environment sectors

investigate opportunities to provide a data base on new technologies suitable for use at the Olympic games to assist organisations planning to tender for contracts.

H. Merchandising

Sydney is committed to:

every company tendering for a merchandise contact being required to provide environmental information in its submission in relation to manufacture, use and disposal

avoiding unnecessary waste generated by products with a short useful life or unnecessary packaging

not using materials from threatened environments or species

maximum use of recyclable and recycled materials

promotional clothing being made from natural fibres wherever possible

the design and packaging of products embodying an educational message about the environment wherever possible.

I. Ticketing

Sydney is committed to:

ticketing systems integrating event admission with public transport

tickets being printed on recycled and recyclable paper, using non- toxic ink.

J. Catering

Sydney is committed to:

minimal packaging of foodstuffs subject to appropriate health standards being maintained

use of recyclable or reusable packaging

non-disposable cutlery and crockery being used at food outlets wherever possible.

K. Waste Management

Sydney is committed to:

minimising waste and maximising recycling

education of athletes, officials, media and spectators on correct waste disposal

recyclable packaging being suitably identified to facilitate separation from other recyclables and assist ease of collection