(ATR) Rio 2016 head of sustainability Tânia Braga tells Around the Rings that securing ISO 20121 shows the commitment by the organizing committee to emphasizing sustainable practice in Brazil.
Rio 2016 received the certification on Jan. 27, only the second Olympic organizing committee after London 2012 to do so. The guideline was created by the International Organization for Standards in 2012 to measure and provide best sustainability practices put forth by large event organizations.
"The certification it’s an international standard that ensures we have a good management in place to integrate sustainability in everything we do," Braga said to ATR. "We are setting the example for other events in Brazil, building the work we are doing with our suppliers, partners that we are in the right direction."
A plaque designating the certification was installed in the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee, but for Braga the real impact of the certification will come after the Olympics.
"I think the main legacy is to prove to people that it is possible to organize such a huge event according to international recognized standards," Braga added.
"There will now be a legacy of people that have an experience with working in a more sustainable way knowing it is not more expensive, and it can be done on time and it can be done in a fun way."
Rio 2016 will continue to work and encourage their its suppliers to continue implement practices used for Games preparations long after the Olympics are completed. In addition the organizing committee continues to work on projects outside the scope of the Olympics.
One project, in coordination with the United Nations, works on promoting sustainable tourism by informing tourists of sustainable activities in Rio de Janeiro and informing hotels and restaurants of best sustainable practices to use.
Even with the current economic climate in Brazil, Rio 2016 believes that now is the perfect time to implement sustainable practices so the country saves money in the long term.
"Sustainable practices don’t cost more if you do them early more on your planning journey," Braga said.
"It is cheaper to be sustainable because many times it is about stopping and thinking on what you really need. We really believe that if we put sustainability in the beginning of the work we can operate in a more efficient way and it will be cheaper as well."
Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro
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