Sifaka

 

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World Conference on Sports and Environment, Beijing, China, October 2007

 

 

Eco-Sys Action was invited by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to this conference jointly organised by UNEP, the Olympic Committee and Bocog, the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games.

 

Participants from all over the world exchanged ideas and experiences on how sporting events can become sustainable. Speeches from the Torino Organizing Committee and Rio de Janeiro 2007 PanAmerican Games Committee were among the most interesting. In his keynote address, Jacques Rogge, president of the IOC reminded everyone of the need for sport to be more meaningful and environment-friendly.

 

With the upcoming first Eco-Sys Action International Conservation Football Cup (ICFC) in 2009, the conference was a gathering not to be missed and everyone showed interest in the ICFC format.

 

Visits to a Beijing school promoting sustainable development and to the Olympic village were scheduled to help understand Beijing's efforts towards supporting the environment in spite of a heavy fog covering the city that reminded every participant of the huge pollution affecting China's capital.