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Rugby World Cup 2011
Sport has been recognised as a powerful tool to raise awareness about environmental
issues.
When the All Blacks set out in search of Rugby World Cup redemption on home pitches in 2011, beyond the sidelines will be the culmination of an ambitious project to make New Zealand’s hosting as environmentally sustainable as possible.
More than 70,000 visitors are expected to watch the 20 teams competing in 48 matches during the tournament, creating a potentially large environmental footprint. The government has agreed that for Rugby World Cup 2011 to be successful it must be environmentally sustainable.
When it sought the right to host the event, the New Zealand Rugby Union built its bid around a theme of a stadium of four million people, reflecting the place rugby has in New Zealand culture.
With an anticipated cumulative television audience of more than four billion, New Zealand will receive unprecedented international exposure as it hosts one of the most important global sporting events behind the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup – and the largest event ever hosted in this country. New Zealand has the opportunity to leverage off this international exposure to showcase its leadership in environmental sustainability while also creating lasting benefits for New Zealanders.
With the increasing public awareness about environmental issues, there is a growing demand and expectation for major sporting events to demonstrate environmental sustainability. The summer and winter Olympic Games, the FIFA World Cup, and the Commonwealth Games have or are currently addressing the environmental impacts of their respective events.
Rugby World Cup 2011 presents an opportunity for New Zealand to build on our 'clean and green' reputation by incorporating sustainability into rugby’s biggest event. It also provides opportunities for New Zealand’s sustainable businesses to capitalise on the increased media interest and visitor numbers to demonstrate their environmental sustainability credentials to a wider market. There will also be opportunities for community organisations to be involved.
The Ministry for the Environment is working closely with the Rugby World Cup 2011 Government Coordination Office within the Ministry of Economic Development, and Rugby New Zealand 2011 (the tournament organiser) to develop an environmental sustainability strategy for Rugby World Cup 2011. Work has already been done on developing environmental sustainability criteria for regions wanting to host matches.
While specific actions will be needed to address the environmental impacts of Rugby World Cup 2011, a number of initiatives already exist that will not only help reduce the environmental impact of the tournament, but will also contribute to wider environmental sustainability outcomes.
An example is LOVENZ – Recycling in Public Places, which involves spending $4.6 million over three years to establish a network of street recycling bins. The Rugby World Cup 2011 Government Coordination Office will encourage all regions involved in the Tournament to apply to participate in the programme. The LOVE NZ brand will help ensure consistency in the messages visitors see as they travel around the country – as well as encouraging them to do the right thing.
