More than 1 billion people around the world are watching the Olympics. Whether it's winter or summer, fans gather to cheer on their national athletes. Last year, Salt Lake City's bid to host the 2034 Winter Olympics was deemed the “preferred” choice.
An event this large takes years to plan and organize. Utah's unique bid will require efforts to effectively prepare the city to host the games. These important requirements have raised concerns about the environmental impact of the Olympics.
Past environmental impact
One of the most notable effects of the Olympics is the lack of sustainability of the venues. Many venues, including Rio de Janeiro and Beijing, suspend maintenance at their Olympic venues after the games are over.
As a result, these large venues, often built for the Olympics themselves, are left to rot. It feels like a waste to abandon these venues, especially considering the construction work. Are the environmental costs of building these facilities worth it if they are put on the backburner after the Olympics?
Travel is also a noteworthy factor when it comes to environmental impact. During the Olympic season, large numbers of fans and athletes flock to the venue. These travel initiatives have a huge impact on the environment. According to MIT Technology Review, the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics produced 160,000 tons of carbon dioxide due to the movement of spectators and judges.
Furthermore, the use of fake snow at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics caused controversy. Artificial snow has been a concern because of the potential environmental impact of the chemicals used to create it. The heavy reliance on snow technology for the 2022 Olympics may be due to Beijing already experiencing water shortages, but snow production uses large amounts of water and energy. . In addition to environmental factors, some athletes expressed concerns about the safety of artificial snow. Artificial snow is prone to ice formation, which is faster and more dangerous than natural snow.
In short, there are many elements of the Olympics that cause environmental problems. Whether they relate to preparatory activities for the convention or to the by-products of the event itself, these concerns must be addressed.
What can you do
The International Olympic Committee is committed to promoting sustainability and minimizing environmental impact in future Olympic Games. That means utilizing the Olympic venues after the Olympics are over. This has been successfully accomplished in many previous Olympic sites, including here in Utah. For example, the Maverick Center, which hosted ice hockey during the 2002 Olympics, is still in use today and is home to the Utah Grizzlies.
The IOC is encouraging hosts to “make the most of” their Olympic venues. This requirement is intended to promote sustainability and limit the need for additional construction. These efforts are clearly visible in the facilities for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. After the Summer Olympics concluded, the venue continued to be used for recreation.
Additionally, the IOC is promoting the use of existing venues. While previous Olympics have faced problems such as deforestation and improper disposal of materials during preparations, there are many benefits to promoting the use of previously built venues. It reduces damage to the natural environment, prevents excessive pollution from occurring, and facilitates ongoing maintenance of existing facilities.
In addition to venue maintenance, clean and reliable transportation is also important. The Winter Olympics had a huge impact on public transportation here in Salt Lake. The Utah Department of Transportation expanded many of its services in 2002 to meet the needs of the Olympics.
Previous Olympic host countries have had similar experiences and have established clean transportation methods for the Olympics. The 2012 London Summer Olympics saw increased investment in public transport. This had a huge impact on the city's transportation system and continues to do so today.
Providing people with this mode of transportation reduces their dependence on less clean modes of transportation. As a result, progress can be made towards reducing the excessive carbon emissions seen at past Olympic Games. Working towards a cleaner Olympics requires promoting sustainable and clean transport options.
What does this mean?
As the 2024 Summer Olympics approach and excitement grows over Salt Lake's Olympic bid, it's important to consider the Olympic Games' impact on the environment. The Olympics are slowly but surely becoming greener than previous years, but there is still work to be done.
Efforts to further promote sustainability, especially at Games venues, will play a major role in protecting the environment. Additionally, providing clean and effective public transport can continue to reduce carbon emissions and have a lasting impact on venues. These are just two aspects of the Olympic impact on the environment, but they will definitely help promote cleaner Olympics in the future.
Given the current climate situation, it is vital that the IOC keeps its promises and continues to work towards a greener future, not only for the Olympics but for the world as a whole.
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@Jonah Marriott
