IOC walk the talk sustainability strategies

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Marie Sallois speaks with a lot of confidence and she speaks in a manner that conveys a sense of certainty and self-assurance. The graceful and elegant Sallois asserts that everybody will have to work as a team for driving sustainable innovation in sport infrastructure.

Holding a very responsible and key position with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Switzerland, Sallois avers that the world of sport can be an enabler to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs – a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity).

Marie Sallois, who is with IOC Switzerland, drives the implementation of sustainable development within the Olympic Movement. This includes environmental and social responsibility (human rights and gender equality, diversity and inclusion) together with Olympic Games impact and legacy.

Marie Sallois, Director, Corporate and Sustainable Development, IOC, Switzerland, engages in a meaningful conversation with ‘Coliseum’ and asserts that to foster sustainability innovation in sport infrastructure the carbon footprint left behind due to the construction of venues will have to be addressed which is a huge challenge and that the IOC wants to be a part of the solution by tackling this challenge within their remit. She also pointed out that “spiffy venues do not matter but what matters most is bringing more sport to more people in the field”.
 

IOC

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is the international, non-Governmental, sports governing body of the modern Olympic Games. Founded in 1894 by Pierre de Coubertin and Demetrios Vikelas, it is based in Lausanne, Switzerland. The IOC is the authority responsible for organizing the Summer, Winter and the Youth Olympics.
 

Olympic Movement

The Olympic Movement is the concerted, organized, universal, and permanent action carried out under the supreme authority of the IOC of all individuals and entities who are inspired by the values of Olympism – excellence, respect and friendship to promote sport, culture and education to build a better world.
 

Sustainable Innovation in Sports Infrastructure

The Sustainable Innovation in Sports Infrastructure includes eco-friendly facilities, reducing waste, renewable energy, cutting down transportation costs, and sustainable sports goods.

Marie Sallois began the conversation by stating that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has the reach, the visibility and the platform for innovation – “It is no longer about building anything specific for the Olympic Games. It is about making the best use of the existing infrastructure and one should ensure that while building venues minimum carbon footprint is left behind and thus create a social impact. And in this regard, the IOC walk the talk.”

She added, “The IOC does not the run the sports venues, it does not even build these venues but has still built credibility around it and we have set the bar very high. The point is not what the IOC will achieve but how we can achieve our sustainability goals together. We have reduced energy consumption by half, we have reduced water consumption by 75 percent. So, it’s always about raising the bar and maintaining this position in the whole lifecycle of infrastructure.”
 

Paris 2024

Paris 2024 refers to the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics which were held in France from July 26^th-August 11^th, 2024.
 

Sustainability Ambitions of Paris 2024

She was all praise for Paris 2024 which she said exemplified reuse –“Only five percent of the venues have been built for Paris 2024 and 95 percent already exist. We renovated a lot of the infrastructure that will later turn into competition venues or training venues. And, at the same time it is not about building iconic, big, elite sport venues but it is about bringing more sport to more people in the field. The French Government has also invested in low-cost sport venues close to people in the local communities so that the Games will have an impact on the daily life of the citizens.”

Sallois pointed out that the few new stadia which have been constructed have all come up in the Northern part of Paris which was lagging behind when it comes to sports venues – “And all these structures have been built with sustainability at the forefront from Day One and the best part is that the local communities have been involved who have made the seats for the arenas from recycled plastic.”

She was quick to add that the National Olympic Committees and the Federations are the entities who have worked behind the scenes “day in and day out” to bring to fruition the sustainability ambitions of Paris 2024.
 

Sum-up

A brimming-with-confidence Marie Sallois summed up, “To drive sustainable innovation in sport infrastructure and to accelerate the pace of change at scale within the Olympic Movement and sport at large we will have to stand together.”

Marie Sallois is a firm believer in the fact that the Olympic Movement can grow from strength to strength only if the stakeholders involved come together and work as a team.

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