VANOC and the Province of BC to Host World Conference on Sport and Environment

Oct 24, 2008

Sport inspires change. When global sport leaders gather in Vancouver in March 2009 for the 8th World Conference on Sport and the Environment (WCSE), they will encourage attendees from the world of sport, business and academics as well as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to share best practices and advance global commitments to addressing environmental concerns.

The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) will proudly host the 2009 World Conference on Sport and Environment (WCSE) on behalf of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) at the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre from March 29-31, 2009. Coordinated by GLOBE Events, the theme of the conference is Innovation and Inspiration — Harnessing the Power of Sport for Change, with a focus on two areas: sport for environmental solutions and sport for sustainable living.

“It is an honour to be hosting such a prominent conference on sport and the environment here in our own backyard,” said John Furlong, chief executive officer for VANOC. “This forum offers those working with both sport and the Olympic Movement to share best practices and set new goals in sustainable development as we look to the future. We are proud that Canada and particularly British Columbia are leaders and innovators in sustainability and this conference presents a unique opportunity for local and international delegates to share their expertise.”

The 2009 WCSE conference will include key representatives from:

• The International Olympic Committee
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
• National Olympic and Paralympic Committees
• International sports federations
• Past, current and prospective Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committees
• Olympic and Paralympic Games bid and Host Cities
• Corporate sponsors, academic research institutions, other major sporting event organizers and non-government organizations

Origins of the WCSE

In 1994, the International Olympic Committee implemented the environment as the third pillar of the Olympic Movement and subsequently created a Sport and Environment Commission to advise the IOC Executive Board on policy positions regarding environmental protection and sustainable development. The following year, the IOC and the UNEP hosted the first biennial World Conference on Sport and the Environment in Lausanne, Switzerland. Then in 1999, the IOC in collaboration with UNEP developed Agenda 21 – Sport for Sustainable Development, with the goal to improve socio-economic conditions and conservation and management of resources for sustainable development.

Recent WCSE conferences have been held in:

• Nagano, Japan (2001)
• Torino, Italy (2003)
• Nairobi, Kenya (2005)
• Beijing, China (2007)

To register to attend, and for more information visit wcse2009.com. Students and NGOs may receive special rates to attend.

The 2009 World Conference on Sport and the Environment will feature an Innovation and Inspiration exposition to showcase best practices by sport organizations, event organizers, host and bid cities, corporate sponsors and NGOs; all of whom promote sustainable living and sustainable development through sports. The exposition will be open to all conference delegates as well as the general public. Interested exhibitors should book early as this opportunity is sure to sell out.  Please contact: The GLOBE Foundation at 905.841.1688 or email: exhibits@wcse2009.com.