Lausanne, Switzerland, October 1, 2024: Olympic rower Imogen Grant from Great Britain, Olympic beach volleyball player Lina Taylor from Bulgaria, Swiss Olympic and the International Hockey Federation have been named the four winners of the IOC Climate Action Awards 2024 in recognition of their efforts to help address climate change and make the world of sport more sustainable.
Supported by Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner Deloitte, the IOC Climate Action Awards reward innovative projects from National Olympic Committees, International Federations and athletes that are aimed at reducing the environmental impact of sport while inspiring the wider Olympic Movement to take action.
“As climate change accelerates, the Olympic Movement is accelerating its efforts to address it,” said IOC President Thomas Bach.
“This year’s winners of the IOC Climate Action Awards show that the Olympic Movement is taking its responsibilities seriously: reducing our impact, while inspiring others to take action.
“We congratulate the winners for their innovative and impactful projects that are making the world of sport more sustainable. We hope these efforts inspire others – in sport and beyond – to join the collective effort to address one of the toughest challenges our world is facing today.”
The four winners were selected from amongst the 15 finalists announced during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and included the International Hockey Federation, whose President is OCA Coordination Committee Deputy Chair Tayyab Ikram.
The IOC stated: “The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has reduced water usage by an estimated 60 per cent since 2012 through the development of innovative ‘Dry Turf’ technology, which reduces the amount of water needed for elite hockey pitches.
“This new technology has already led to a 40 per cent reduction of water use between London 2012 and Tokyo 2020, and what is estimated to have been a further 20 per cent reduction for Paris 2024.
“The ultimate aim is to replace the 2,000 or so water-based artificial hockey pitches globally with dry turfs, saving approximately 7.6 billion litres of water per year.
“The FIH is also developing other innovative solutions, including ‘self-wetting balls’, which release water at the point of contact between the ball, the surface and the stick, to enable the sport to be played at the highest level on dry turf.
“The project is part of the FIH’s wide-ranging sustainability strategy and comprehensive carbon reduction and mitigation plan, which includes the first-ever carbon-zero artificial turf, inaugurated at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, and the global ‘Give Back to Forest’ tree-planting programme.”
FIH President Tayyab Ikram said: “We are extremely honoured and grateful to receive this very high distinction from the International Olympic Committee for the efforts to reduce the impact on the environment generated by the practice of our sport.
“Sport has a major role to play in building a better future for society and this includes protecting the environment. We are determined to be an important stakeholder in this area.”
(IOC)
