The "Developing Environmental Circular Knowledge" (DECK) program has been selected as a finalist for the prestigious IOC Climate Action Awards 2024. Supported by Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner Deloitte, these awards recognize and reward innovative projects that reduce the environmental impact of sport and inspire the wider Olympic Movement to take action.
Marie Sallois, the IOC’s Director of Sustainability, emphasized the critical role of sports in combating climate change, stating, “Climate change is taking its toll on everyone, and sport is no exception. We all have the responsibility to reduce our impact. The IOC Climate Action Awards aim to celebrate those that are driving climate action within the wider Olympic Movement. The high number and quality of applications we have received this year illustrate the progress made in addressing climate change across the Olympic Movement.”
The DECK program has made significant strides in promoting sustainability within canoe sports by identifying 50 environmental management and circular economy best practices for canoe competitions and creating a rating tool for evaluating any type of paddling event. The focus areas include recycling and redistribution of leftover food, switching to greener mobility options like car sharing, transitioning to digital tickets to minimize the use of paper, and managing spectator movement at events to ensure the protection of biodiversity.
The DECK program is the result of a collaborative effort between the International Canoe Federation (ICF), the Italian, Greek, Croatian, and Slovenian Canoe Federations, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, and the School of Sport (Sport e Salute). The selection of DECK as a finalist highlights the program's innovative approach and its potential to inspire further advancements in sustainability practices within the sports community and beyond. The continued impact and recognition of the DECK program are anticipated to help shape a more sustainable future for sports.
In addition to DECK, this year’s finalists include:
In the NOC category:
- Comité Olímpico de Chile
- Hellenic Olympic Committee
- Mauritius National Committee
- Comité Olímpico Español
- Swiss Olympic
In the IF category:
- International Biathlon Union (IBU)
- International Hockey Federation (FIH)
- World Rowing
- World Rugby
In the athlete category:
- Christopher Blevins, Mountain Biking, USA
- Imogen Grant, Rowing, Great Britain
- Lina Taylor, Beach Volleyball, Bulgaria
- Marion Thenault, Skiing, Canada
- Oliver Scholfield, Hockey, Canada
The announcement of the finalists took place during the Olympic Games Paris 2024, at an event hosted by Deloitte. The names of the winners of this year’s awards will be announced during UN Climate Week, between 22 and 29 September.
For more information about the IOC Climate Action Awards, click here
