2010 Winter Olympics Sustainability Star
Winter Games Organizers Announce Green Award Winners
Jun 4, 2009
VANOC, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, is focusing considerable money and effort into the concept of sustainability (durabilité).
The intent is to reduce the environmental impact of the Games while providing lasting social and economic benefits. This will be achieved through such strategies as
- careful venue site selection
- innovative energy management
- purchase of carbon offsets
- an emphasis on public transit during the Games
One program designed to stimulate sustainability projects is the Sustainability Star award.
Sustainability Star for 2010 Winter Games
Scheduled to run until March 31, 2010, the Sustainability Star program is intended to recognize innovations in games-related products and processes that contribute to sustainability. The program winners are selected by a 10-person jury.
“The Sustainability Star program has been created to recognize our partners who have demonstrated excellence in rising to the challenge of creating projects with positive and measurable social, economic and environmental assets," said Ann Duffy, VANOC’s corporate sustainability officer (VANOC media release, 2009/03/26).
In order to qualify for a Sustainability Star, an innovation must
- Demonstrate two or more sustainability features (social, economic, environmental)
- Be directly related to the 2010 Winter Games
- Produce a quantifiable and measurable outcome
- Be new to the Vancouver 2010 Games region or to the Games in general
- If not new, be significantly scaled up from previous games or regions.
Sustainability Star Winners
- Whistler Athletes’ Village – built under the new Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system, the village is one of only 20 developments in Canada to qualify for the designation.
- The BC Hydrogen Highway – an initiative showcasing hydrogen and fuel cell technology development, the high way stretches between Whistler and Vancouver International Airport. The project is sponsored by governments at municipal, provincial, and federal levels along with industry partners.
- RONA Vancouver 2010 Fabrication (Fab) Shop – RONA and VANOC have partnered with community organizations to set up a downtown Vancouver shop to build small wood products required at Games venues and to provide community-based carpentry training.
- Richmond Olympic Oval – features a unique "wave roof" made from wood salvaged form pine beetle infestation. "The multipurpose centre for sport, recreation, health and fitness qualifies for LEED silver certification," says VANOC.
- BC Hydro’s Green Energy Innovations – a project to replace some diesel generated electricity with "clean power" to the 2010 Winter Games.
- LiveSmart BC – a provincial action plan for climate change that encourages residents to make "carbon smart choices at home, at work and on the road."
- Coca-Cola’s carbon footprint and offset program – Coke aims to be a carbon-neutral sponsor of the 2010 Winter Games. Hybrid delivery vehicles, low-energy cold drink equipment and staff uniforms made from recycled bottles are interesting aspects of the program. The Coca-Cola Olympic Games Sustainability Program was created in consultation with WWF-Canada and the David Suzuki Foundation, says Coke.
- Teck Cominco Going for Gold – The web-based company encourages employees to "embrace Olympic and Paralympic ideals through positive actions such as volunteerism, sustainability and innovation." An estimated 1,700 employees have signed up to participate.
- LearniT – Nortel and VANOC’s /EDU have partnered with LearniT to help teachers "integrate the latest technology, such as rich audio and video content, into classrooms throughout Canada."
“We’re continuing to work towards improving the sustainability performance of the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Duffy, "by leaving a living legacy that continues long after the Games here are done."
VANOC Announces More Sustainability Stars
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