Olympic Games and Ecology: From Hyperconsumption to Sustainable Development Evolution of the ecological agenda in the IOC For most of the 20th century, the ecological aspect of hosting the Olympic Games was ignored. The construction of grandiose facilities, massive territorial transformation, and the concentration of hundreds of thousands of people in a limited area placed a significant burden on the environment. The turning point came with the 1994 Winter Games in Lillehammer (Norway), which were the first to be declared "green." However, a systematic approach only emerged at the beginning of the 21st century, when ecology became the third pillar of the Olympic movement alongside sport and culture. In 1999, the IOC adopted the "21st Century Agenda" for world sport, and in 2014, launched the "Olympic Agenda 2020" strategy, where sustainable development was designated as a guiding principle. Today, ecological responsibility is an essential condition for any city bidding to host the Games, and the ecological footprint of the Games is carefully analyzed by scientists and experts. Key ecological challenges and innovative solutions The ecological impact of the Olympics is multifaceted. The main directions include: Carbon footprint. The largest volume of CO₂ emissions (up to 70-80%) traditionally comes from transportation (athletes, spectators, cargo) and the construction of facilities rather than the event itself. In response, the IOC and organizing committees are implementing decarbonization strategies. London-2012 was a pioneer, the first to calculate the full carbon footprint of the Games and compensate for part of the emissions. The 2022 Winter Games in Beijing were the first in history to be declared carbon-neutral. This was achieved through the use of natural CO₂ as refrigerant in ice arenas instead of synthetic refrigerants with a high global warming potential, as well as the complete conversion of the vehicle fleet to electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles. Howev ... Read more