2006 Winter Olympics to be first 'green' major sports event

The Turin 2006 Winter Olympics, which starts in February 2006, has been combining the use of three EU voluntary environmental protection instruments as part of its efforts to be the first every truly 'green' major sports event. "The Turin 2006 Winter Olympics will be the first major European sports event that can rightfully call itself 'green'," said Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas on 12 January 2006. From the Commission's point of view, the fact that the Olympics have been combining EMAS, the EU's eco-management and audit scheme, the European eco-label scheme and green procurement make them the "first ever truly sustainable major sports event".