French President Francois Hollande, and Paris 2024 Co-Chairman and triple Olympic Gold Medallist Tony Estanguet addressed institutions and executives from across France Tuesday on sustainable development in sport and the role sport can play in creating a greener society.
The seminar, known as Onze Tricolour, will take place in 10 cities across France this summer.
The event, which occurred at INSEP (the French National Institute of Sport and Physical Education), is based around 11 core themes – culture, accessibility, economy and tourism, employment, digital innovation and health.
Estanguet lead the sustainable development element of the seminar with a team of seven innovative entrepreneurs. Other initiatives include Optimouv – a new software tool that will allow the optimization of travel during sports events.
#11Tricolore @fhollande "3000postes sécurité ont été créés" Le numérique sera un puissant appui pour @Paris2024 " pic.twitter.com/Cnh8X9RJ8y
— INSEP (@INSEP_PARIS) March 29, 2016
The Paris 2024 bid committee is in the process of establishing an Environmental Excellency Committee, for which the remit and composition is to be announced in the coming weeks.
Bids are now expected to adhere to new International Olympic Committee (IOC) Agenda 2020 directives that emphasize the importance of sustainability and the environment.
Estanguet said, “I`m honoured and delighted to be alongside President Hollande here at INSEP to discuss how sport can implement environmental initiatives to help contribute to a greener society. It`s vital that we do what we can to look after our planet as one of the world`s biggest and most popular industries sport has an important part to play. This seminar led by UEFA EURO 2016 reaffirms France`s commitment to sustainable development in relation to major sport events.
“Paris 2024 is fully committed to sustainable development and 95 per cent of our proposed competition venues already exist or will be temporary structures. Following the 2024 Games, the Athletes Village and Media Village will be converted into a new Eco City with 5,000 homes for local people. Once finalized, this innovative and environmentally sensitive area will form a diverse, pleasant and multi-functional urban centre in Paris.”
Paris is up against rivals Budapest, Los Angeles and Rome in its bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games. The campaign that launched last year will end September 2017 when the IOC elects a winner in Lima, Peru.
