International Olympic Committee news
Paris 2024 is setting new sustainability standards for global sporting events. Reducing the environmental impact while maximising social and economic benefits, Paris 2024 organisers will deliver a spectacular event that is more responsible, more sustainable and more inclusive.
Embracing the concept of “doing more with less”, the Games are the first to be fully aligned with Olympic Agenda 2020, the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s strategic roadmap to shape the future of the Olympic Movement and the Games to make them more sustainable, cost-effective and aligned with the needs of host cities and communities. Olympic Agenda 2020 made several recommendations, including the use of existing and temporary venues, reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable energy sources.
Here is how Paris 2024 put this into action:
Emissions reduction
Paris 2024 organisers are laser focused on reducing emissions. The Games will cut the footprint by 50 per cent compared to the London 2012 and Rio 2016 average, aligning with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The event will account for all carbon emissions (scopes 1, 2 and 3), encompassing direct, indirect and spectator travel emissions.
Venues
A key aspect of Paris 2024’s sustainability and carbon reduction strategy is the use of existing or temporary venues, which account for 95 per cent of the total venues. This initiative is crucial in contributing to reducing the Games carbon footprint by half and aligns with the IOC’s recommendation to minimise new construction.
From the iconic 80,000-seat Stade de France in Saint-Denis – home to athletics, Para athletics and rugby sevens – to the Saint-Quentin Velodrome, which will host the cycling events, 95 per cent of Olympic venues are facilities that either already exist or have been temporarily assembled and will be dismantled for future reuse after the Games.
The new venues have been constructed to respond to local needs, embracing the principle of reducing and reusing. Both the Aquatics Centre and the Paris 2024 Olympic Village have been built in the north-eastern suburbs of Paris, where some of the city’s most under-invested neighbourhoods are located.
The Aquatics Centre:
The Olympic Village:
Energy
Paris 2024 will use 100 per cent renewable energy sourced locally, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability. All venues are connected to the grid, enabling them to use renewable energy without the need for temporary diesel generators – significantly reducing the carbon footprint. Solar panels have been installed on the Aquatics Centre and the Olympic Village to harness solar energy. Additionally, geothermal cooling systems are being used at the Olympic Village instead of traditional air conditioning, further enhancing energy efficiency.
Food
The Games will emphasise sustainable food practices:
Transport
All Paris 2024 venues are accessible by public transport. This approach not only reduces carbon emissions but also promotes sustainable mobility options for the community.
Circular economy: reducing, renting and reusing
Paris 2024 is committed to a circular economy by minimising new resource use and ensuring a second life for equipment and goods:
More information about Paris 2024 sustainability can be found in the Paris 2024 Pre-Games Sustainability Report. Read the full report here and the executive summary here.
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