10th International Sport Business Symposium – Environment and Sustainability Tokyo

“Discover Tomorrow”

This is the official slogan for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. The sustainability concept of the Games is: “Be better, together – For the planet and the people”. The Olympic and Paralympic Games are among the world’s largest sporting events. This impact is not limited to sport, but also on society, the economy and the environment. We aim with this symposium to emphasize the impact on the environment.

Sustainability is specifically manifested in Olympic Agenda 2020 by Recommendation 4: Include sustainability in all aspects of the Olympic Games. This is about the IOC taking a more proactive lead in ensuring that sustainability is properly factored into the planning and staging and legacy of the Olympic Games. The important distinction here will be what the IOC can do itself to make the Olympic Games a more sustainable event, recognising that many aspects will be under the control of the respective host cities and Organising Committees of the Olympic Games.

Recommendation 5: Include sustainability within the Olympic Movement’s daily operations. This recommendation has three main elements. Firstly, for the IOC to develop its own corporate sustainability programme – in effect, “walking the talk”. Secondly, it is about reaching out to the wider Olympic Movement to provide assistance and means of sharing best practices. Thirdly, there is a role of “representation and advocacy” on behalf of the Olympic Movement, to ensure sport has a credible and effective voice in global sustainability dialogue, and to leverage key partnerships.

IOC president Dr. Thomas Bach said: “Building on Olympic Agenda 2020 and developed in close cooperation with many stakeholders and partners, the IOC Sustainability Strategy will fundamentally shape the working practices of the IOC, the Olympic Games and the Olympic Movement. From the design and construction of sport facilities and the way we manage resources, to valuing the natural environment and health and well-being of our people, all of our decisions will be informed by the sustainability principles that are highlighted here.”

Following this call for action, we would like to invite you to Tokyo for the 10th International Sport Business Symposium, organised by Prof. Holger Preuss (Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz) in cooperation with Prof. Dr. Satoshi Shimizu and Associate Prof. Yoshio Takahashi (University of Tsukuba, Tokyo).