PyeongChang 2014 Establishes “Green Medal” Programs for Bolstering New Green Plan
PyeongChang 2014 today announced the details of two new “Green Medal” environmental programs, strengthening further the commitment of the bid team to environmental best practice.
The Green Medal Programs include a Team Korea Cool Climate Challenge, an ambitious country-wide initiative involving the Korean sports community and the winter sports industry in efforts to tackle the challenge that climate change presents to winter sports. The other component is the Greener Sponsorship Program, an initiative that brings together Olympic sponsors and suppliers to promote the sustainability goals of the IOC and the PyeongChang bid through a collaborative partnership.
These programs are in addition to PyeongChang 2014’s existing New Green Plan, announced earlier this year, which has already earned praise from the IOC Evaluation Commission, from sports bodies and athletes, and from Korean environmental groups and international experts.
“By unveiling these new and complementary programs we are announcing to the world that we are committed to creating a sustainable Olympic legacy that is worthy of “green medals” as well as gold medals,” said Kim Jin-sun, Governor of Gangwon Province and Executive President of PyeongChang 2014.
The Team Korea Cool Climate Challenge will encourage all of the winter sport stakeholders such as snow resorts and ice arena operators, sports teams, hotels, sports equipment manufacturers and individual winter athletes to do their part to halt climate change. The Cool Climate Challenge will identify ways that all of these “players” can reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions by consuming less energy, using alternative forms of transport and making wiser purchasing choices. One tactic will be to promote the use of more environmentally friendly liquid natural gas to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
“Like many Korean winter sport athletes, I believe it is essential to the future of my sport and for the planet, that I and my team-mates accept and promote the Cool Climate Challenge,” said Chun Lee-Kyung, Olympic short track gold medalist and member of the IOC Athletes’ Commission.
As a first step to support the Team Korea Cool Climate Challenge, the PyeongChang 2014 Bid Committee has committed to “off-setting” the greenhouse gas emissions that are linked to all of the travel associated with being a candidate city.
The PyeongChang 2014 Greener Sponsorship Program is aimed at all companies who wish to be sponsors and suppliers to the games. The bid committee has made a clear and firm commitment to demonstrating and promoting the very highest level of “sustainable” or “green” practices in preparing for and staging the 2014 Winter Games.
David Chernusheko, an international environmental expert and a consultant for PyeongChang who took part in the design of the program said: “By implementing the Green Medals concept, I expect that the 2014 Winter Games in PyeongChang would be a high quality, sustainable and environmentally friendly event.”
South Korea is actively involved in reducing global warming and joined the Climate Change Convention in December 1993. The government has also signed a ‘Voluntary Convention for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions’ with 169 environmentally-aware companies in Suwon last November.
Link to documents:
Team Korea Cool Climate Challenge – Background Paper
PyeongChang 2014 Greener Sponsorship Program – Background Paper
Thousands in PyeongChang Participate in Olympic Day Activities
On 24 June, with ten days to go until the election of the host city for the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, thousands of citizens of PyeongChang and Gangwon Province were involved in Olympic Day runs to show their enthusiasm for the bid. On the same day the government announced that President Roh Moo-hyun will attend the IOC Session in Guatemala.
In 14 counties in Gangwon Province, a total of about 30,000 residents took part in 5km or 10km runs to mark Olympic Day. Kim Jin-sun, Governor of Gangwon Province and Executive President of PyeongChang 2014 Bid Committee participated as a runner and said:
”Today’s event has again demonstrated the public interest in the Olympic Movement in PyeongChang. I would like to express special thanks to all the runners who have taken part and made it such an enjoyable day.”
In addition, artists from Gangwon Province provided musical entertainment for an audience of 500.