Environment

Delhi, the capital city of India is getting beautified like a bride for the upcoming mega-sporting event, Commonwealth Games 2010 in October. The 12 day event from 3rd to 14th October 2010 will involve 71 participants (Commonwealth Games Associations) and will host 17 sports across 23 sporting venues in and around the city. This is the XIXth Commonwealth Games, where the best of athletes (about 8000) will come from 71 Commonwealth Nations to showcase their mettle

                                 What I feel proud about the most is the initiative of the Organizing Committee of Commonwealth Games, Delhi to strive towards the staging of the first ever "Green Commonwealth Games". Beijing Olympics, 2008 and the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa have undertaken green principles and green technologies as a joint venture with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). But this will be the first time when Commonwealth Games will go green.
.                       The environment will play a pivotal role in Commonwealth Games 2010 as the CWG organizers in Delhi, jointly working with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), have proposed to implement a series of green measures to make this one of the greatest green sporting events.
In October 2007, the organizers of the Commonwealth Games 2010, Delhi had tied up with the UNEP and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in order to integrate major environmental considerations into the planning and staging of the first ever "Green Commonwealth Games".
                                          The green measures which were proposed under MoU are called Ecological Codes and they would cover the areas of:

Conservation of biodiversity
Extensive afforestation
Energy efficiency
Effective waste management
Reduced air and noise pollution
Sustainable transportation
Conservation of water
Waste water treatment
Use of renewable energy

Green Initiatives for a carbon-neutral sporting event
Some of the green initiatives taken by the Organizing Committee of CWG 2010, Delhi are:

> On 5th June 2009, the World Environment Day, 71 Jasmine saplings were planted in the  
    "Commonwealth Garden of 71" (created at Hotel Ashok, the Games family Hotel) signifying the 71
    participating Commonwealth Games Associations (CGA).  
> A green games portal or microsite, highlighting the vision, activities and environmental awareness
    programmes was launched on the same day within the Commonwealth Games 2010 website.
> A tree plantation drive was undertaken in October 2009 in order to lower carbon footprints and
   compensate the adverse effect of ongoing construction work. The first "city forest" was developed by    
   planting 3000 saplings in Arya Nagar, Delhi by student volunteers of eco-clubs, schools and colleges,
   officials of Delhi government, Department of Environment and Organizing Committee. Following this,
   many more of such "city forests" were developed to enhance the green cover of the city.
> One of the coal based power plants was closed down for cleaner air.
> On 5th June 2010, the Organizing Committee CWG, coupled with the Department of Environment had
   organized a sustainable transport rally of bicycles, electric cars and electric bikes. More than 200
   people participated in the rally.
> By the end of July 2010, air quality monitoring system will start providing real time pollution data at 11
   key locations in the city and will continue till the Commonwealth Games in October
> Increased number of metro routes have been built to connect various parts of the city and the national
   capital region (immediate outskirts) to public transportation system.
> Delhi had already introduced a fleet of green buses running in clean fuel (Compressed Natural Gas)
   and the number of those buses are increased to ensure sustainable transportation.
> All the 2000 vehicles for transporting officials and athletes will run on Compressed Natural Gas
   Recycled paper stationery will be used during the Games.
> Recycled paper stationery will be used during the Games.

Photo via commonwealthgamesflags.com