IF Sustainability Project CORAL REEF RESTORATION

2020 | 1 NOC AND IF SUSTAINABILITY CASE STUDIES

The world faces significant challenges sustainability and should be continued. across a wide spectrum of economic, These case studies, which now also social and environmental matters. showcase National Olympic Committees’ The Olympic Movement has both (NOCs) best practices, form part of a an opportunity and a duty to actively strategic support system given to the contribute to the global sustainability Olympic Movement through the debate in line with its vision of “Building IOhttps://www.olympic.org/sustainabilityC Sustainability Strategy. a better world through sport”. Each case study is aligned with one or With this in mind, and in response to more of the IOC’s five sustainability focus Olympic Agenda 2020, the International areas: infrastructure & natural sites; sourcing Olympic Committee (IOC) launched the & resource management; mobility; workforce; International and climate. They are Federation (IF) also aligned with one Sustainability or more of the Project in 2016 United Nations’ to obtain an (UN) framework overview of IFs’ of 17 Sustainable sustainability Development Goals initiatives – (SDGs), which provide identifying a common framework common topics, for organisations to challenges and explain how they plan good practices while also sharing information to contribute to sustainable development and among the IFs. tackle the key global sustainability challenges. One outcome of the project was a series This framework is pivotal for the Olympic of case studies illustrating how IFs are actively Movement – in September 2015, the UN contributing towards a more sustainable world. General Assembly confirmed the important As part of the IOC’s objective to “profile the role that sport can play in supporting the “Sport is also an important enabler of sustainable development. We recognise role of the Olympic Movement in sustainability UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable the growing contribution of sport to the realisation of development and peace through the aggregation of information and Development and its SDGs. in its promotion of tolerance and respect and the contributions it makes to the collective reporting”, it was agreed that the empowerment of women and of young people, individuals and communities identification and sharing of information The IOC provides support to NOCs and IFs in the as well as to health, education and social inclusion objectives.” definition, design and development of their contributes to the holistic integration of sustainability strategies. Paragraph 37, UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

2020 | 2 Each NOC/IF sustainability IOC FOCUS AREAS UN SDG project contributes to one or more of the IOC’s sustainability focus areas and one or more of the UN’s Sustainable INFRASTRUCTU RE WORKFORC E CLIMATE Development Goals (SDGs) & NATURAL SITES

ising water levels, air pollution and the WORLD ENGAGES ATHLETES AND destruction of biodiversity on land LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO SUPPORT LIFE R might be at the top of our minds when it comes to climate change, but this is BELOW WATER only the tip of the iceberg. Under our oceans, the destruction of the world’s coral reef is something worthy of urgent attention.

Beyond providing natural beauty, coral reefs are of extreme importance to on-land and underwater life. They offer our coastlines a natural protection from damaging wave action and tropical storms, and assist in carbon and nitrogen fixing, a fundamental piece in the fight against climate action. Moreover, as much as 25% of our marine life depend on them as they provide habitat, shelter and nutrients. An estimated 4,000 fish OBJECTIVES species rely on them at some point in their ’s initiative on coral reef existence. restoration was set with the goal to: • Support local research and give World Sailing's 2020 Hempel World Cup athletes education and experiential

Series Miami was identified by World Sailing training on the impact climate change as the perfect opportunity to bring education is having below the water. and action together in alignment with the • Engage local sailing clubs and youth United Nations Sustainability Development sailors in a tangible sustainability Goals (SDGs) and the WShttps://bit.ly/31MZCM1 Sustainability programme that would create https://bit.ly/31MZCM1Agenda• 2030. awareness on the challenges of the • local environment, ignite action and In partnership with their title sponsor, Hempel empower future advocacy. A/S,• and the Rescue a Reef programme at • Leave a positive legacy contribution the University of Miami (UM), the event after the event. managed to collect 250kg of marine litter,

2020 | 3 and create awareness among hundreds of 150 staghorn corals, previously grown by the outplanting of 150 new corals. While the athletes and volunteers. University in underwater nurseries, were initiative gathered positive feedback from the outplanted as part of the activity. This participants it also created an opportunity for Mangrove clean-up technique used by the Rescue a Reef their sponsor to create a meaningful 150 sailors, including 50 World Cup programme has proven effective in growing engagement with the sailing community. participants and volunteer sailors from local the local reef population. Following the success at the event, World sailing clubs, took part in a pre-competition Sailing plans to repeat beach clean-ups at its mangrove clean up organised by US Sailing. World Sailing had partnered with the events looking to continue coral reef Beyond the immediate effect of the clean-up, University of Miami in previous editions of the restoration expeditions when events are in the hands-on experience provided a chance event and it was the feedback from the suitable locations. to educate and create further awareness sailors that led to these activities. Many among those present. The long-lasting sailors around the world carry out regular “WE FELT IT WAS effects can include changes in habits among beach clean-ups and encourage events to IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT the participants and exponential reach host. LOCAL SCIENTIFIC through advocacy across their circles of RESEARCH AND ALLOW influence. EVALUATION A positive legacy was embedded in the ATHLETES TO PHYSICALLY Coral reef restoration World Sailing’s 2020 Hempel World Cup PARTICIPATE WITH SOME Athletes took part in a hands-on reef Series Miami. 150 sailors were rallied to gain OF THE RESEARCH restoration expedition hosted by UM awareness and take action to protect the THEMSELVES.” researchers following a lecture on how world’s coral reefs, removing 250kg of DAN READING, WORLD SAILING HEAD climate change is affecting coral reefs. Over marine litter and contributing to the OF SUSTAINABILITY

BENEFITS • 250kg of marine litter was removed from a local mangrove ecosystem and 150 corals were out planted. • Close to 150 athletes and local sailors were engaged in education and action against the impact of climate change. • The project received positive feedback from the sailors, created a positive impact in the local community and provided sponsors with a new powerful platform to engage with the sailing community.

CONTACT: Dan Reading, World Sailing Head of Sustainability [email protected] 2020 | 4