Sports for Nature: Making an Impact at Paris 2024
“It’s incredible to see so many people here!” - remarked Marie Sallois, IOC Corporate and Sustainable Development Director. Indeed, in front of a packed house including some of the most influential sports organizations, the 2024 IOC Climate Action Awards Finalist Lina Taylor, Olympian and CEO of Climate Executive Coaching, moderated the S4N event.
Sports for Nature (S4N) mobilizes the power of sports organizations to restore and protect nature, equipping them with practical tools for effective action. It is a collaborative initiative by the IUCN, International Olympic Committee (IOC), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy.
Upon the invitation of the IOC and S4N, I had the privilege to moderate the event during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. We heard from leaders in the French government, the IOC, the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee, CBD, as well as Olympic Champions and a freshly-minted Olympic medalist from Paris.
The event culminated in welcoming 14 new S4N Framework Signatories - organizations determined to take decisive action - take a look at the growing list below! It was heartening to see a room bursting with leaders, unequivocally committed to maximizing the role of sports in safeguarding nature!
- Lina Taylor, Olympian and CEO, Climate Executive Coaching
What is the Sports for Nature Framework
The S4N Framework encourages sports organizations of all types to commit to reducing their environmental impacts and report their progress based on four key principles: nature protection, nature restoration, sustainable practices like green procurement, and education and communications.
Sports for Nature Framework. All photos and slides credit: Sports For Nature
While many of us are sports fans and some even athletes, nature and biodiversity are usually not at the forefront of our minds when discussing sports and entertainment events. Yet, many of our favorite sports and events, as well as the wellbeing of athletes and spectators alike, are deeply intertwined with nature, a point emphasized throughout the “Sports for Nature. Stronger Together” event.
Event Highlights
Opening the event, Samuel Ducroquet, Ambassador for Sport, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, France, emphasized the French government's commitment to the Olympics and Paralympics, which united the Nation in delivering unparalleled and unforgettable Games.
Samuel Ducroquet, Ambassador for Sport, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, France
Following this, Marie Sallois, IOC Corporate and Sustainable Development Director, highlighted the unique power of sports to inspire change, with Paris fully embracing and delivering not only spectacular but also, sustainable Games.
“No other sector, no other industry, can have this inspirational power, and this is why we can be more part of the solution than anyone else.”
- Marie Sallois, IOC Corporate and Sustainable Development Director
Building on this theme, Benjamin Lévêque, Head of Climate & Biodiversity at the Paris 2024 Organising Committee, showcased the innovative strategies and planning that went into making the Paris 2024 Games the most sustainable to date, with a strong focus on biodiversity.
Benjamin Lévêque, Head of Climate & Biodiversity at the Paris 2024
Sports for Nature Framework: Local Action, Global Goals – Together!
Instrumental in the wide interest and adoption of the S4N Framework was Julie Duffus, Sustainability Senior Manager at the IOC, who, alongside Meredith McCurdy, Program Leader - Sports for Nature, explained the commitments required of signatories.
They shared the mission of Sports for Nature: to tap into the potential of sport to drive positive change, support and enable sports to champion nature, contribute to its protection and restoration, and provide a clear framework for action that encourages cooperation and partnerships across sectors.
The S4N framework is built on four simple yet actionable principles co-developed for and by the sports community. Their insights were complemented by Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity, who connected local actions with global biodiversity goals through a video message, stressing the importance of collective efforts for our planet.
Left to right: Julie Duffus, Sustainability Senior Manager, IOC and Meredith McCurdy, Program Leader, S4N
Nature as a Pillar of the Paris 2024 Games
Continuing the discussion on sustainability, Justine Marchal-Appleton, Manager of Environmental Impact, Biodiversity & Regulatory Procedures at Paris 2024, shared how the Paris 2024 Games are leading the way with their biodiversity initiatives.
Embracing the concept of "doing more with less," the Paris Olympics focused on reducing carbon emissions by utilizing existing venues and temporary infrastructures. The new Aquatics Centre is strategically located in Seine-Saint-Denis, which lacks sports facilities and where one in every two 11-year-olds cannot swim, providing facilities for generations to come.
The Games also took accountability for biodiversity at the venues and surrounding areas by protecting trees, controlling crowds, and positioning installations away from ecological areas.
Paris 2024 Nature as a Pillar Framework
Athletes Leading by Example
The athletes’ panel further underscored the connection between sports and nature. Alena Olsen, Paris 2024 bronze medallist from the USA Rugby 7s team and EcoAthlete, advocated for greater athlete involvement in biodiversity efforts. Her family, dressed in bee antennae costumes at the Rugby 7s game, exemplified her commitment to raising awareness of biodiversity loss.
Showing off her new hardware - a bronze medal from Paris 2024, which Alena won with her USA Rugby 7s teammates.
Fun fact: the Paris 2024 medals contain a piece of the Eiffel Tower scrap medal, inserted in a hexagon shape at the center of each medal. The hexagon is a symbol of France. It is widely used as a symbol of harmony and balance.
Inspired by the IOC’s Olympic Forest project, Abhinav Bindra, a five-time Olympian and Beijing 2008 Shooting gold medallist, took action by funding the Odisha Ridley Forest, a project aimed at planting a million trees over 1500 hectares in a biodiverse region. This initiative not only supports ecological restoration but also improves the lives of local tribes dependent on forest resources. As the CEO of Abhinav Futuristics and founder of the Abhinav Bindra Foundation Trust, he was recently awarded the prestigious Olympic Order and appointed as the 2nd Vice-Chair of the IOC’s Athlete Commission.
Left to right: Lina Taylor, Abhinav Bindra, Alena Olsen, Adam van Koeverden
Adding to this dialogue, Adam van Koeverden, a Canadian three-time Olympian, Athens 2004 Canoeing gold medallist, and Parliamentary Secretary to Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the Minister of Sport and Physical Activity, acknowledged the sustainability efforts implemented in the Games, reinforcing the consensus that the Olympic movement provides a powerful platform for advocating change.
Organizations’ Perspective: Teamwork is in Our Nature
Building on the athletes’ perspectives, a panel of signatories shared how the S4N Framework has influenced their organizations. Karine Teow, Head of Sustainability, International Table Tennis Federation
took on one of the most challenging aspects of sustainability, addressing the supply chain. With a complex and long manufacturing process, there needs to be “collaboration across the board,” noted Ms. Teow, and being a signatory of the S4N Framework signals to suppliers and partners alike the long-lasting commitment her organization is making, turning its influence into a lever for change.
Jamie McKeown, Sustainability, Diversity, and Inclusion Manager at World Rugby, discussed how S4N formalized their sustainability strategy and inspired the “Rugby for Nature” guide—a toolkit for rugby clubs to safeguard the environment.
Left to right: Lina Taylor, Karine Teow, Jaime McKeown, Rocío Echeverri, Nina King-Gillies
Rocío Echeverri, Executive Board Member and Chair of Environmental Committee, National Olympic Committee of Costa Rica described the journey from a small-country’s perspective, saying that even the “smallest actions can make a big difference,” when that’s paired with what your organization might be really good at. In the case of Costa Rica, the rich biodiversity of the country is something most of its citizens are really proud of, so appealing to their sense of pride can help inspire action.
Nina King-Gillies, Project Officer at the French National Museum of Natural History, echoed these sentiments, sharing initiatives like the “Tour de France” and “Nature’s Athletes” series, which educate viewers on France’s natural heritage. Her collaboration with the French Golf Federation on the Golf for Biodiversity program further demonstrates how sports can preserve and promote natural habitats.
Committed Leadership
Highlighting the role of leadership, Keith Joseph, President of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC), and Alexandra Palli, Chair of the Sports and Environment Commission, Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC), spoke about the responsibility of sports leaders to champion environmental initiatives. The Hellenic Olympic Committee’s recognition as a finalist for the 2024 IOC Climate Action Award exemplifies the impact of committed leadership on sustainability efforts.
Left to right: Lina Taylor, Alexandra Palli, Keith Joseph
The Hellenic Olympic Committee was recognized for implementing a clear carbon reduction strategy, which includes actions such as replacing the lighting system in buildings’ infrastructure, educating personnel on sustainable procurement practices, and adopting a comprehensive waste management plan and green practices. These efforts are expected to result in a 24 percent reduction in emissions by 2025 compared to the 2022 footprint. It was inspiring to hear Ms. Palli talk about the plans her NOC has made and all of the actions they have already taken, making sustainability a core commitment.
Closing Remarks
Dona Bertarelli, an accomplished sailor, IUCN Patron of Nature, and Executive Chair of Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy, delivered a powerful video message on the balance between performance and preservation, reminding us that every action in sports impacts nature. She emphasized that with great achievements comes great responsibility, making the safeguarding of our environment essential for our survival.
Garrette Clark, Programme Officer at UNEP, closed the event with a call to action, emphasizing that sports can be a force for nature-positive change.
“Sports can be an amazing force to galvanize nature-positive change to a new norm, a more aspirational vision for sustainability.”
Welcoming New Sports for Nature Signatories
Keith Joseph, President of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees, signs the Sports for Nature Framework, with Julie Duffus, IOC Sustainability Senior Manager.
The event concluded with the commitment of new signatories to the S4N Framework’s principles, bringing the total number to 76. These organizations, ranging from National Olympic Committees to golf clubs, are now part of the growing movement to protect and restore nature through sports.
New signatories of the Sports For Nature Framework
New Sports for Nature Signatories Include:
Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees
Hellenic Olympic Committee
Mauritius Olympic Committee
Solomon Islands National Olympic Committee
Botswana National Olympic Committee
World Flying Disc Federation
International Federation Icestocksport
European Aquatics
French Rowing Federation
Colombian Golf Federation
Royal Mid Surrey Golf Club
Bush Hill Park Golf Club
British Mountaineering Council
Omega European Masters
International Golf Federation*
French Golf Federation*
Swiss Golf Federation*
Learn more about Sports For Nature and read their News Blog here.
* previously announced on 23 July, 2024, see the full list of S4N Signatories here.
