Technology

One Planet Centre opens in Olympic Athletes’ Village

Caroline Spelman opens the Olympic One Planet Centre

The One Planet Centre was officially opened yesterday (12 July) at the Olympic Athletes’ Village. During the Games, the Centre will be used to educate and inform athletes about sustainable practices as part of initiatives to make the London Olympics the ‘greenest games ever’.

Through interactive media, activities, and hosting social events and competitions throughout the Games, the Centre will give athletes information about the sustainable practices used to construct and run the Olympic Site with the aim of encouraging athletes to become ‘ambassadors’ for green practices in their home countries.

“Our investment in the One Planet Centre will help Olympic athletes to return to their home countries as ambassadors for creating a sustainable future and a greener planet”, said Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman, who presided over the opening of the Centre.

Emphasising the long-term goals of the Games, David Stubbs, Head of Sustainability at the London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) said: “Our vision was to use the power of the Games to influence lasting sustainable change. The athletes and sport are at the heart of the Games, and the One Planet Centre on the Olympic Village is the perfect place to positively engage with them.”

The One Planet Centre is one among many initiatives to make the Olympic games ‘green’. Other projects include a lighted walkway that will be powered by pedestrian footfall, a water recycling scheme that will filter sewage into a usable (non-potable) water source, and the use of sustainable building materials in the construction of sites such as the Velodrome.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity – the Olympics coming to this country – to really change the way that all of us live our lives and to put them on a more sustainable footing”, said Caroline Spelman.

“There will be a great opportunity – not just for the athletes, but for all those supporting them and the spectators that come to watch – to learn how to live more sustainably on this planet and to make a lasting difference to the way we live our lives after the Olympics are finished.”