The Olympics London 2012 has succeeded in being the most sustainable games so far! Nevertheless, failures have occurred in some significant areas according to a new report BioRegional and WWF-UK.
Entitled, Towards a One Planet Olympics Revisited, the report’s authors conclude that: “The London Olympics that set a new sustainability standard for future Games. 
We just wish it had been able to push sustainability a little faster, a bit higher and with an even stronger focus on changes beyond the Olympic Park.”
The new report provides a snapshot of progress on the eve of the games, examining the 76 promises made then and rating them according to whether or not they have been met.
Sue Riddlestone, BioRegional’s executive director who was involved writing in the original strategy, said: “London 2012 has set the sustainability bar for future Summer Olympics. It has built venues which set the standard for energy saving and embodied carbon. We are proud to have been part of setting the vision for London 2012 and helping deliver it.
“That said with over-consumption of resources driving rapid environmental degradation, London 2012 should have pushed sustainability more and had a stronger focus on changes beyond the Olympic Park. It is important that lessons are learned and that a commitment to sustainability is a key criteria by which the 2020 Summer Olympics bids are judged.”
David Nussbaum, WWF-UK’s chief executive, commented: “We are pleased to report that London has set the bar higher and has moved faster than previous comparable events. But as batons are passed in the next few weeks to those responsible for delivering a legacy from London 2012, and for putting on future Games, we expect that a stronger commitment to sustainability will continue.”
BioRegional and WWF-UK will publish a fuller review of London 2012’s sustainability performance once the Games has finished, and will include examples, opinions and quotes from the social network site to paint a comprehensive picture of what worked and what didn’t.
More information: http://www.bioregional.com/files/publications/towards-a-one-planet-olympics-revisited.pdf.