As the 2024 Paris Olympics draw near, sustainability has taken center stage within the Olympic movement. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has urged all Olympic sports to craft sustainability strategies, emphasizing that environmental responsibility is now a core principle for the Games. However, a recent analysis by the University of Birmingham’s Centre for Responsible Business reveals a stark contrast in how different sports have responded, with some showing commendable leadership and others falling significantly behind.
The study examined the sustainability strategies of the 34 international federations that govern the permanent Olympic sports. Rather than focusing solely on current sustainability measures like carbon emissions, the research assessed the level of engagement, ambition, and future direction outlined in each sport’s publicly available strategy documents. Each sport was then given a quality rating: gold, silver, bronze, or DNF (Did Not Finish), resulting in a sustainability leaderboard that ranks Olympic sports based on their commitment to sustainability.
Out of the 34 sports, only seven received a “gold” rating, demonstrating clear leadership and a comprehensive approach to sustainability. These top performers—athletics, biathlon, hockey, rugby, sailing, skating, and skiing/snowboarding—have developed strategies that extend beyond their corporate operations and even beyond the major events they host, such as the Olympics and world championships. These sports are leveraging their global reach to inspire millions of participants and spectators to take action on sustainability issues.
For instance, World Athletics has partnered with the United Nations Environment Programme to campaign on clean air, a crucial factor for athletic performance. The partnership encourages World Athletics-certified tracks to work with local governments to set and monitor air quality targets, using the sport as a tool to improve public health. Similarly, biathlon and ice skating have highlighted their reliance on cold winter climates and have set ambitious carbon reduction goals to raise awareness about climate change’s impact on their sports.
In contrast, 12 sports, including tennis, basketball, and gymnastics, received a DNF rating, indicating minimal or no public engagement with sustainability. These sports have missed the opportunity to integrate sustainability into their broader strategic visions, often limiting their efforts to small-scale initiatives like encouraging office employees to use less paper or cycle to work.
The gap between the best and worst performers underscores the critical role that sports can play in promoting sustainability. With billions of people expected to watch the Paris Olympics, those governing Olympic sports have an unprecedented platform to drive global awareness and action on environmental issues. As the world faces escalating climate challenges, the need for all Olympic sports to step up and lead by example has never been more urgent. The responsibility to harness the power of sport to effect positive change lies squarely on the shoulders of those who guide these beloved global institutions.
Source: Ranking of Olympics
