Sporting News and Events

Organisers of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi say that the environment will play a pivotal role in this year’s games. From expanding the city’s forests, to boosting energy efficiency and air quality, Delhi is determined to use hosting the games as an opportunity to go green.

Sustainable games

The organisers signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) that they intend to host ‘sustainable games’, and will consider the environment when constructing and renovating venues. The new measures to be taken by the City of Delhi, known as the ‘Ecological Codes’, will be promoted with the assistance of UNEP in the run-up to the start of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Opportunity for transformation

In a UNEP press release, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP’s Executive Director, Achim Steiner, said that the Commonwealth Games 2010, not unlike other major sporting events like the Fifa World Cup and the Olympic Games, ‘represent an inordinate opportunity to pilot innovative ideas and transformational policies able to deliver a low carbon, resource efficient green economy.’

Targets set

The preparation leading up to great sporting events often has a dramatic impact on the environment. It is hoped that the Commonwealth Games 2010 will cause at least 50 per cent less global warming than past sporting events. The Ecological Codes drawn up in the aim of achieving this aim contain six categories: air, energy, carbon, waste, water and land. A target has been set for each category, and a way to achieve that target outlined. According to the Codes, water consumption and electricity consumption as a result of preparation for the games should be reduced by 25 per cent, and 20 per cent, respectively.

India’s first green stadium

Thyagraj Stadium, hailed the first green stadium in India, should be ready by late March (three months after its original expected completion date in December 2009). The stadium will be the first government building to use an environmentally friendly alternative to electricity – for power, it will rely on a gas-based turbine. While the delayed completion of the stadium has left people wondering whether Delhi will be ready for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Thyagraj stadium, a netball competition venue, has demonstrated to the world India’s commitment to UNEP initiatives.

India faces challenges

India, an emerging economy home to one-sixth of the world’s population, faces major challenges with regard to greenhouse gas emissions and carbon neutrality. In a major city like Delhi, transportation alone is a major contributing factor to climate change and air pollution, and it is hoped 2010 Commonwealth Games will help raise awareness in India.

The Common wealth Games 2010 might be remembered for more than just great sporting events – including table tennis, weight lifting, squash, wrestling, cycling and athletics. The 2010 Common Wealth Games may well be remembered as the sporting event that helped India go green.