So before I actually start reading what critics have said about the end result on how "green" the 2010 games turned out to be, I wanted to see what promises VANOC made about making them the "most sustainable games ever".
So on Vancouver2010.com there's a section called 12 Ways VANOC Built Sustainability into the Games
So on Vancouver2010.com there's a section called 12 Ways VANOC Built Sustainability into the Games
What I want to research on and track in this blog are how successful they were in
- incorporating LEED standards into the venues design and construction
- incorporating green principles into transportation, and waste management
- building carbon-neutral games
- raising awareness in how others can "do their part"
Back in March 2009, VANOC set a target to offset carbon emissions by 300,000 tonnes that were caused by direct and indirect emissions for the 27 day Games. This is a significant number obviously, but there are major emission sources associated with the 2010 Games like ground transportation of people and goods, energy consumption at events (including electricity, heating, snow making, and freezing ice rinks and sliding tracks), and air travel for participants and spectators. These emissions cannot be reduced or avoided – only mitigated.
Here's a video I found on YouTube of the same video posted on VANOC's website showing their "journey" to sustainability and how they were going to incorporate it into the organizing and planning of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
Also on a side note something that is interesting, VANOC not only set a target to offset carbon emissions for the 27 days, but from the day of the winning bid. That was 7 years ago. VANOC is the only olympic organizing committee to do this, all others only had targets for the 27 day period.
