Québec City, May 9, 2012 – Attracted by the responsible management of major sporting and business events in Québec, SportAccord International Convention decision makers want the 2012 SportAccord Convention—which will be held May 20–25 at the Québec City Convention Centre—to be a benchmark for the organization’s future conventions. In addition to creating a positive social, economic, and environmental impact, the proposed initiatives will allow sustainability performance indicators to be established that will serve as yardsticks for future SportAccord conventions around the world.
“Our delegates are directly involved in producing and promoting large-scale, international events. For the most part, they are already aware of the impact major events have on the environment. In Québec, the incorporation of sustainable development practices into event management is noteworthy. The services provided by the Québec City Convention Centre and its eco-consulting partner, Takt-etik, gave us a perfect opportunity to step up our approach. By increasing the convention’s eco-responsibility and showing that meaningful measures can be taken, we are setting a solid benchmark for future events in other cities around the world,” stated SportAccord Convention executive director Anna Hellman.
A team comprising the local committee and permanent committee has been working for a number of months to roll out an action plan inspired by responsible event management standards currently being implemented in the convention and events industry. This plan includes a campaign to raise awareness among delegates about the measures that have been taken and the results of residual waste management through a real-time display on the Centre’s monitors. An article will also appear every day in a sustainable development section of the SportAccord Convention’s newspaper, The Daily. But of all the initiatives, the most exceptional is the behind-the-scenes tour that will show delegates the Centre’s work methods and equipment as well as the eco-responsible practices used at sporting and cultural events in Québec City. This fifteen-minute activity, which over 150 delegates have already signed up to attend, will take place three times a day.
The action plan, carried out through a series of perfectly synchronized efforts, includes components that all have an impact on the environmental, social, and economic spheres. Here are a few examples:
• Delegate transportation system planned in cooperation with the RTC
• Opening ceremony spotlighting producers and local circus artists
• Gourmet local dinner event (discovery of 40 prestigious Québec City restaurants by 1,500 delegates)
• Major contribution to an organization promoting sports and healthy lifestyles to young people
• Selective collection of all residual waste, including food waste
• Emphasis on local products throughout the Centre’s food services
• Choice of local suppliers incorporated within all services
• Distribution of excess materials and food to organizations
• Decoration of the premises to promote Québec athletes and artists
• Estimated economic spinoffs of at least $6 million
About the SportAccord Convention
Every year, the SportAccord Convention brings representatives from over 100 international sports federations and organizations affiliated with SportAccord (the former General Association of International Sports Federations), ASOIF (Association of Summer Olympic International Federations), and AIOWF (Association of the International Olympic Winter Sports Federations), as well as the International Olympic Committee Executive Board together with sponsors, bidding and host cities, architects, sports lawyers, broadcasters, games organizing committees, rights holders, and other specialists to discuss the key issues facing the sports industry.
Owned by SportAccord, ASOIF, and AIOWF, the SportAccord Convention encompasses each association’s annual congress and general assembly, while offering the sports community a powerful opportunity to come together in an exclusive and authoritative networking environment to build relationships, exchange knowledge, and develop ideas.
– 30 –
Source: Ann Cantin, Director, Communications and Marketing
Société du Centre des congrès de Québec
418-649-7711, ext. 4054
acantin@convention.qc.ca
