The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that the 7th World Conference on Sport and Environment will be held from 25 to 27 October 2007 in Beijing, China, which will also host the upcoming Olympic Games in 2008. The event is organised jointly by the IOC and the Beijing 2008 Organising Committee (BOCOG), in close partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The objectives of the Forum include:
- Communicating and reviewing the environmental work undertaken by the Olympic Movement and the accomplishments of the Beijing 2008 Games;
- Evaluating the implementation of the recommendations of the 6th World Conference and charting the way forward, setting out orientations in terms of sport, environment and sustainable development for the next two years;
- Discussing major themes related to policy support, strengthening of partnerships and developments, and exploring the latest research;
- Examining and proposing contributions that sport can make to the international community's environmental campaign.
Participants will also be briefed on the progress of the preparations for the 2008 Games and have the opportunity to tour the Olympic venues, environmental projects and other places of interest.
The conference will bring together representatives of governmental and non-governmental institutions dealing with sport and the environment, the United Nations system, Universities, as well as the Olympic Family, and in particular National Olympic Committees, International Sports Federations, Olympic Games Organising Committees, Bid Cities and Applicant Cities, recognised sports organisations and Olympic sponsors. Environmental organisations and media groups are also invited.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed last October by the IOC President, Jacques Rogge, and the BOCOG President, Qi Liu, for the organisation of the conference. This edition follows on from the 6th World Conference held in Nairobi, Kenya, at the UNEP headquarters, in October 2005, entitled ÔÇ£Sport, Peace and EnvironmentÔÇØ, which brought together delegates from all five continents to share experiences and ideas on these themes.
Source: IOC
