Commonwealth Games to be green

To achieve “zero carbon footprint”, the Organising Committee Commonwealth Games-2010 will be holding various awareness campaigns in the run-up to the mega sporting event in the Capital this October. OCCG is trying hard to the keep carbon footprint at its lowest for the Games and set up the benchmark for future sporting events in the country.

At a conference-cum-exhibition “Brand: CWG Delhi-2010” organised by ASSOCHAM here this past Friday, OCCG reiterated its commitment of reducing the carbon footprint and setting the benchmark for future sporting events. “The Organising Committee is funding new public awareness campaigns and exploring synergies in these areas with sponsors through some events like ‘sustainable transport day’, ‘cleaner Delhi drive’, ‘water conservation day’ and ‘World Environment Day’” said T.S. Darbari, Joint Director-General of Commonwealth Games Delhi-2010.

Mr. Darbari also apprised the corporate representatives at the seminar of the significant marketing and sponsorship opportunities that the largest sporting extravaganza in the country presented. “The Commonwealth Games have undoubtedly asserted India’s global presence and brought to the forefront the country’s emergence as a sporting, political and economic giant,” he added.

OCCG Chairman and MP Suresh Kalmadi said: “The Commonwealth Games in Delhi would be the best ever ‘green games’ by incorporating sustainability as a key feature of the Games. The organising committee is aware of the large environment footprint of the Games and is taking proactive strides towards mitigating such impacts.”
Planting trees

Nobel laureate Dr. R. K. Pachauri said his organisation The Energy Resources Institute was keen to participate with the Organising Committee to ensure that the Games are green. He recommended planting trees along railway tracks, developing bio-walls in all competition venues and converting the dormant Safdarjung airport into a city forest.