Sustainable Sport NEWS

The efforts of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) to make the operations of the 2018 Commonwealth Games sustainable have been given an official tick of approval by the Sustainable Event Alliance.

Having conducted an independent and external review of GOLDOC’s compliance to ISO 20121: Event Sustainability Management Systems, the Sustainable Event Alliance (SEA) congratulated GOLDOC for implementing an effective and rigorous event sustainability management system in conformity to the international standard.

In a statement, SEA advised “it was apparent that GOLDOC is showing it’s serious about the potential environmental and socio-economic issues and opportunities in putting on this mega sports event. Their intent is backed up by an approach that will ensure all facets of GOLDOC operations will have sustainability management at their heart.

“The systems established to operate the Games ensure that the sustainability team can engage with all functional areas of the operation, and be confident that the ambitions set for sustainability performance of the Games can be successfully met”.

GOLDOC has made environmental sustainability a focus of the 2018 Games, with an eye to leaving the city a green legacy.

GOLDOC Sustainability Manager Chelli Easson said it was not all about paper cups and looking after wildlife, but also looking at the environmental footprint, carbon emissions and waste management.

Easson recently told the ABC “it's not just about the environment, it's not just about being green, but they are very important aspects to what we do.

"We also look at making sure the venues are accessible for people with any sorts of mobility impairments or other impairments, so that everyone can have the same great experience."

One in particular that has emerged is restricting the use of plastics and helium balloons.

Here Easson explained “that's a big issue, particularly being so close to the ocean, and the Gold Coast has more canals than Venice and Amsterdam combined.

"We're a water-based city and the pollution that comes from plastics and the impact that has on marine life is very important to locals."

The organisers also want to make sure the social, economic and environmental practices adopted during the Games are continued into the future.

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