Day-1: Panel Discussions

G-ForSE 2004 in Lahore featured three panel discussions addressing various themes relevant to sports and the environment. International and local guests were assigned to each panel according to the relevance of their expertise to each topic discussion.
The three titles for discussion were

1. Corporate environmental responsibility
2. Sports and Environment: Concept, Reality and Action
3. Partnership for a better environment

Each panel discussion was followed by a Q and A session with the audience.

Panel Discussion 1: Corporate environmental responsibility

According to Mr. Michel Parraudin, President of the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry, “sustainable development and corporate social responsibility has become a core preoccupation of the WFSGI.” The position of the WFSGI on the environment is to encourage its member to seek ISO 14001 certification and to reduce the environmental impact at source-the source being in countries such as Pakistan.
Tariq Rangoonwala-head of ICC Pakistan, however, pointed out that in developing countries that lack facilities, such as Pakistan, new avenues must be sought to fill the gap in standards. This can be prohibitively expensive, although he agreed the issue is extremely important.

Quaiser Jamal-MD of National Refinery Limited, reiterated this view and called on developed nations to share technology with developing countries in order to enable them to fulfill their environmental responsibilities as their industries grow. He also pointed out initiatives, such as reducing lead in petrol, which have been introduced with success in Pakistan.

Ambreen Waheed, CEO of Responsible Business Initiative (RBI) was keen to point to the success stories in Pakistan, namely the positive and decisive way in which Sialkot, one of the world’s major sporting goods manufacturing centers, has dealt with the issue of child labor and maintains high awareness regarding corporate social responsibility.

This point was driven home by Kh. Zakauddin, MD of Capital Sports, who credited Sialkot’s success in dealing with child labor issues to the guidelines and guidance from national and international organizations, and the spirit with which the challenge was accepted. He affirmed Sialkot’s determination to deal with environmental problems in a similar manner and pointed out that several Sialkot firms had already achieved ISO 14001-certification.

Representing sponsors, Amir Pasha of Coca Cola outlined his company’s long association with sports and the desire the company had to associate itself with the positive values associated with sporting events, such as the Olympics- namely trust, friendship, respect, and striving to be the best. Regarding Corporate Social Responsibility, Mr. Pasha pointed to CC’s proactive involvement in local communities, such as the “adopt-a-school” program in Pakistan, and Cocoa Cola’s global environmental actions, including the America Recycle 2004 Campaign.

According to Tore Brevik, UNEP Special Advisor for Sport and Environment, these sponsors are just one of the players that must address environmental issues in the organization of a major sporting event such as the Olympics. With the environment as the third pillar of Olympism, the IOC is taking the issue seriously with its policies, plans and actions, and all those involved-contractors, sponsors, host cities and NPOs,must abide by their corporate environmental responsibilities.

Panel discussion 2: Sports and Environment: Concept, Reality and Action

The second panel discussion at the Global Forum for Sports and Environment (G-ForSE) 2004 in Lahore looked at the key philosophy behind the concept of “sports and the environment”, presented examples of current activities taking place in this field and discussed the potential for future actions.

Tatsuo Okada, Executive Director of Global Sports Alliance (GSA) focused on the importance of clean air and water to athletes and the latent potential of the global sporting community to raising environmental awareness and action. He outlined actions, such as the Ecoflag Movement that seeks to unite this international community in all areas of sport.

NPOs and environmental agencies play an important role in this, although as Asad Sumbul of Leadership for Environment and Development (LEAD) pointed out, their current capabilities are limited. Despite introducing legislation, such as the 1997 Environmental Protection Act, environmental protection agencies are not in a position to physically enforce these laws and perhaps were never designed to do so. Their role has been to spread awareness and create good corporate citizens.

Ali Hasan Habib, Executive Director of WWF Pakistan, outlined the kind of work that such organizations are doing in developing countries, such as the WWF’s efforts to protect the natural environment at the Shandur Polo Match, a yearly event that attracts 10,000 people to an ecologically sensitive area 12,000-Ft. above sea level in the North of Pakistan. The WWF is working towards making the tournament a “zero waste event” and hopes to initiate other actions to protect the ecosystem, such as limiting access to the lakeside that is a staging area for migratory birds, creating specified campsites, making environmental announcements and restricting the building of permanent structures.

Two organizations took part in the panel discussion that were fulfilling a similar role but facing different challenges, by working to increase environmental awareness and action in developed countries. Alexis Gallice, Director of Green Football France outlined his organization’s efforts with football enthusiasts and clubs-working throughout the football season to motivate as many football clubs as possible to engage in a sporting and environmental awareness policy.

As one of the FIFA 2006 World Cup Organizers, Hartmut Stahl of the Oeko Institute faces the challenge of applying environmental principles to the organization of the world’s second largest sporting event, which, unlike the Olympics that are focused in one city, will be conducted all across Germany. While tackling Waste, water and energy issues common to recent Olympic Games, the negative impact of transport will present a unique challenge and the “Green Goal” initiative is looking at investing in climate protection projects elsewhere in the world in order to remain “carbon neutral”.

Panel discussion 3: Partnership for a better environment

The final panel session at the Global Forum for Sports and Environment (G-ForSE) 2004 in Lahore looked at the kind of important partnerships that can develop between schools, sport associations, industry and athletes for increasing environmental awareness and action through sports.

The importance of partnerships was central to the presentation of Antonio Lucio, Director of Environment for the Madrid 2012 Olympic bid, and gaining the understanding and consensus of the citizen’s of Madrid has been a major focus of his team’s efforts. As a result this is not only increasing environmental awareness among a large proportion of the city, but improving the city’s bid prospects by earning popular support ratings for the event of over 90 percent.

According to Aftab Rana, Executive Director of Adventure Foundation Pakistan, the organization has worked hard to form partnerships in local communities. This has succeeded in increasing awareness among regional communities, increased the popularity of adventure sports (still an emerging area in Pakistan) and provided a volunteer base that are getting involved in clean ups, tree planting and training for guides and instructors.

An organization such as the World Federation for the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) forms partnerships with organizations all around the world. According to Andre Gorgemans, WFSGI Secretary General, there are many challenges to face when introducing environmental codes of practice in emerging industrial nations such as China. The organization promotes good environmental practices among its members, although it should be understood that the WFSGI is not an enforcement agency, and can only make recommendations for industry to follow.

Rameez Raja, a sports personality and cricket commentator, addressed the issue of partnering with professional athletes and sport stars to become role models in promoting environmental awareness. Clearly this area is under-developed, although some cricketing stars have been involved in AIDS awareness and other heath campaigns. He admitted that there is still probably insufficient awareness among professional athletes and this needs to be addressed as the amount of youth attention, corporate attention, and social attentions, warrants enlisting their cooperation as role models.

Two examples of successful collaboration projects were presented during the panel discussion:
Ibrhim Al Zu’bi, Director of the Emirates Diving Association, outlined his organizations partnerships with UNEP and the Ocean Conservancy that has helped attract an international body of volunteers in Dubai to take part in ocean protection programs, such as “Clean up Arabia” and the “Turtles Tagging” project.
Dr. Liz Odera, Director of the Nature and Sports Camps in Kenya is working with organizations such as UNEP and Global Sports Alliance (GSA) to provide sports coaching and environmental clean ups, tree planting and education to 6400 children from communities in Langata and the adjoining Kibera slum area near Nairobi.

Nazir Sabir, a renowned mountaineer in Pakistan, summed up the hopes of all these organizations, describing the tremendous experiences that sport can provide through our interaction with nature and the value in preserving the earth’s valuable resources.
“ Spiritual and inner happiness is connected with nature-the biggest problem is the pollution of the human mind.” He said.

For more information on G-ForSE 2004 in Lahore, contact Jason_Chare@gsa.or.jp