Paris Earns Sustainability Certificate -- 2024 Roundup

(ATR) The Paris bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics is the first of its kind to receive International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 20121 certification based on its sustainability credentials.

The ISO 20121 standard, brought on in part by the Organizing Committee for the London 2012 Games, is an event sustainability management system that outlines best-practices for organizers of global and local events.

The certification was provided by independent auditors SGS of Switzerland, which along with the ISO, views sustainability as more than just "going green".

"Sustainability is about how an organisation continues to run its activities in a commercially successful way whilst contributing towards a stronger and more just society and reducing its impact on the environment," according to the ISO.

"To achieve ISO 20121, an organisation will need to demonstrate that it has considered within its management system all key financial, economic, social and environmental issues relevant to its operations; focusing solely on environmental issues will not be sufficient."

SGS made Paris the first Olympic candidate city to be ISO 20121 compliant while recognizing its social consultations, commitment to local and national stakeholders, governance structure and legacy projects.

Paris 2024 co-chairman Tony Estanguet says the certification proves that sustainability is in the bid team’s DNA.

"Sustainable development has been at the heart of our project since the very beginning, and will continue to be so," Estanguet said in a statement. "We have the ambition to offer Games that will have a positive, lasting impact on French society and on the Olympic movement. The ISO 20121 certification guarantees that we will organize sustainable Games, in accordance with the Agenda 2020."

The International Organization for Standardization says its 20121 certification may one day be a minimum requirement for event organizers.

"One of the key benefits of ISO 20121 certification is that it will enable an organisation to differentiate itself in the marketplace and hence improve their chance of winning new business," the ISO says on its website.

Paris will learn at the IOC Session on Sep. 13 whether that holds true in an Olympic bidding race.

LA 2024 Provides "Behind the Scenes" Look at Bid City

Leaders of the Los Angeles bid for the 2024 Summer Games are utilizing the city’s vast experience with storytelling to highlight its Olympic project.

LA 2024 chairman Casey Wasserman takes viewers ‘behind the scenes’ of Los Angeles in the bid’s "What’s Not in the Bid Book" video series that went live March 27.

Wasserman shares what it is like at Universal Studios in the first episode of the series that aims to showcase the city’s role as a "global storytelling powerhouse", according to LA 2024.

The video series will feature Wasserman – a lifelong resident of Los Angeles – touring and describing some of L.A.’s lesser known destinations such as nature trails, museums, diners and more.

"I am thrilled about our ‘What’s Not in the Bid Book’ video series because it allows me to share all of the reasons why I love the City of Angels, beyond sport," Wasserman said in a statement. "One of those reasons is LA’s history as the global hub of movies and entertainment.

"Storytelling is what we do in LA, it’s who we are, and it’s one of the reasons our city is uniquely positioned to deliver a Games that sparks the imagination of young people around the world."

And... ACTION 🎬#LA2024 Chair @caseywasserman is taking you BTS of Hollywood's movie magic in episode 1️⃣ of "What's Not in the Bid Book"! pic.twitter.com/TH4e8tA4jl

Written by Kevin Nutley

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