"As climate change accelerates, the Olympic Movement is also accelerating its efforts to address it." As Thomas Bach emphasized last year, sustainability is now at the heart of sports stakeholders' development strategies. The IOC's Climate Action Awards, created in November 2022, are one example. Each year, the organization recognizes Olympic and Paralympic athletes, International Federations, and National Olympic Committees for their proactive efforts in the fight against climate change. It's a way to recognize these contributions, inspire others, and showcase innovative and effective initiatives.
Welcoming bold ideas
The IOC has just launched the 2025 edition by calling on candidates to present " projects offering measurable environmental benefits » : recycling sports equipment, reducing waste, promoting sustainable food initiatives, etc. Last year, British rower Imogen Grant was recognized for her commitment to river water quality. She has contributed to more than 2.400 river studies and made numerous speeches to inform and raise awareness among athletes about sustainability. Bulgarian beach volleyball player Lina Taylor was also recognized for the work done through her association Climate Executive Coaching, which provides scientific training and coaching on climate.
« The IOC Climate Action Awards are back in 2025, and they're not just about celebrating bold ideas, they're about building a movement., says Marie Sallois, director of organizational development and sustainable development at the IOC. These awards are a call to action for those redefining what is possible in the sport and sustainability sectors. We invite athletes, International Sports Federations, and National Olympic Committees from around the world to share their initiatives to combat climate change and accelerate the sustainable transformation of sport. » Applications are open until June 27. The winners will be announced at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Games.
Six months of mentoring for the winners
The winners will receive personalized support to further their sustainability efforts, with support from Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner Deloitte, which has partnered with the awards. The winning NOCs and IFs will be able to participate in an Innovation Lab workshop to accelerate and scale their climate initiatives. The athletes will benefit from six months of mentoring with a regional Deloitte sustainability expert, who will advise them on how to develop their project and increase its impact.
The Swiss NOC received an award in 2024 for reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 66% between 2022 and 2023 compared to 2022 – notably by favoring the train for travel within Europe – and for its policy of granting funds to national federations, clubs and organizations to support their efforts to reduce carbon emissions. The last winner in 2024, the hockey IF, distinguished itself mainly by significantly reducing water consumption thanks to the development of innovative Dry Turf technology for high-performance hockey fields. Thomas Bach hopes that " These efforts will inspire others – in sport and beyond – to join the collective effort to tackle one of the most difficult challenges facing our world today. "And so that the Olympic Movement can set an example.
