Greenpeace

The Olympics is one of the most widely broadcast events in the world. Every two years viewers (myself included) get a thrill from cheering for their country on their way to the gold medal. Gold, silver, bronze, every medal counts for the final tally. But this year, who is going for the green? Apparently, the Vancouver Organizing Committee (Vanoc).

This year, the 2010 Winter Olympics Games are being held in the warmest city to ever host: Vancouver, Canada. But, what they were not expecting was for this to also be the warmest winter ever experienced in Vancouver since 1937 with temperatures averaging around forty five degrees Fahrenheit! For weeks prior to the games’ kick off, snow was being hauled in via massive “snow-lifts” from areas where our capricious Mother Nature has not wreaked havoc. Although, Vancouver’s rise in temperatures is caused in part by it being an El Niño year, global warming is also inflicting its wrath on West Coast winters.

Western Canada’s has lost four weeks of its famous ski season over the past fifty years due to climate change. Though, global warming is not entirely to blame for the warm temperatures of the Winter Olympics this year, it lets us get a glimpse of what future winters will look like if there is no change, and the future is balmy and bleak. Scientists using satellite data have estimated that British Columbia’s glaciers are melting at a rate of 22 cubic kilometers of ice annually (about as much water as all of Canada uses in a year).

Vanoc is ensuring that their city promotes sustainability and showcases a green future for the Olympics. Hydrogen-fueled buses will be available at select vicinities, several buildings are LEED-certified, and many of the Olympic medals are produced from recycled electronics. Also, energy usage will be monitored at all times throughout the games using local power and software companies. John Furlong, CEO of Vanoc, says the objective is to manage the environmental impact to spawn “lasting benefits, locally and globally.”


Over the years, the Olympic games have made attempts to become more energy efficient, but this will be the first year that the initiatives will be measured. The city built new venues designed especially for the Olympics, and made this year’s venue the most green yet and will be utilized for fifty years into the future (many times structures built specifically for the Olympics remain empty post-games). Sixty-two sustainable stars (a sustainability award) were given to various programs and structures by Vanoc in yet another attempt to promote their green outlook.  

But, as temperatures remain above freezing, athletes find conditions more manageable, and spectators get to experience closer races. So, I guess there is always a silver lining.

Luckily for me, my favorite event is indoors, speed skating, which is unaffected by the temperature rise. But for those of you who favor snowboarding, slalom, or the biathlon, don’t just root for your Olympian to go for the gold, cheer them on for the green as well.