Paris Olympics 2024: A Benchmark for Sustainable Sporting Events

Context

The Paris Olympics 2024 stands to create a new benchmark in the organisation of sporting events given that many of the features will be environmentally friendly. This approach not only corresponds with the world’s awareness of the decreasing environmental awareness but also, concerns with large scale events’ capacity of bringing about change. 

About Paris Olympics 2024 

The next Summer Olympics will be the Paris Olympics 2024, the thirty-fourth Summer Olympic Games to be held in Paris, France starting from 26th July and ending on 11th August 2024. It is believed that millions of people together with athletes will gather to watch this event. 

Description Details 

• Renewable Energy: The games will depend on natural energy devices such as geothermal, and solar energy to manage carbon emissions. 
• Sustainable Food: This way the Olympics will support plant-based mostly locally produced food with lesser emissions of greenhouse gases from the meat and dairy sectors. 
• Existing Infrastructure: In contrast to the past games, Paris 2024 plans to utilise existing structures or temporary structures for 95% of the competitions, therefore, cutting down on emissions from construction in half. 
• Eco-Friendly Transportation: For the bicycle only, 1000 kilometres of exclusive bike lanes have been constructed within the city and 3000 bi Annual Games rentable bikes will be available during the games to encourage environmentally friendly transport means. 
• Waste Reduction: Re-use and recycling of furniture and the buildings used for the Olympics will also be minimised as part of the attempt to eliminate waste during the Olympics. 
• Carbon Offset: The Games will continue to buy environment and social credits to compensate for unavoidable emissions, planning to reduce emissions to 50 percent of the previous Summer Games. 
• Sustainable Accommodations: Every athlete will be provided with mattresses which will be made from recycled fishing nets while the bed bases will be from recycled cardboard The olympic village mainly will be transformed to residential houses after the event. 

Significance 

Much can be learned from Paris Olympics 2024, about how future sporting events will be organised where adverse environmental impact could be kept at minimum. 

Pros 

• Reduced carbon footprint 
• Management of sustainable practices 
• The other benefit was an improvement in the global image of both France and the Olympics. 

Cons 

• Sustainable practices attract higher costs as compared to conventional practices. 
• Some of the barriers that can be associated with the implementation of the green measures for various organisations and firms.
• There are restrictions for emission reductions in some areas.

Challenges 

• Thus, there is concern with how sustainable the event has to be with regard to the requirements of the event and the experience of the spectators that the event offers. 
• Establishing sustainability and its continued practice as a tradition 
• Responding to objections and doubts concerning the efficiency of sustainability activities 

 Conclusion or Way Forward 

• Thus, the Paris Olympics 2024 is marked as a sign of stepping on the way of sustainable sporting events, with many crucial lessons for future host countries. 
• Thus, adopting the environmentally friendly principles and lowering CO2 emissions, the Olympics contribute to the development of a better future. 
• To the world’s eyes, Paris 2024 shall deliver the success of turning the new page for sustainable sports games.

Source: The Indian Express

UPSC Mains Practice Question:

Q. Analyse the initiatives taken by the organisers of the Paris Olympics 2024 to make it a sustainable event. What lessons can be drawn from this experience for hosting future international sporting events in India?

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