Apparently, people are still playing sports. Who knew?
Beijing Olympics 2008: The Games will be “basically” carbon neutral, according to one official. Technology Minister Wan Gang predicts that the Olympics will emit 1.3 million tons of carbon dioxide — thanks in large part to athletes’ travel — but that keeping cars off the road and planting trees will “ensure that emissions will be balanced.” China’s Environmental Protection Minister expressed cautious optimism: “At the current level of progress and intensity, we can meet national standards and our government’s Olympic pledge under ordinary weather conditions. But we must be clear-headed that the task at hand is still challenging, and the environmental situation is still quite grim.” But with a hazardous-air day just months before the Games kick off, some athletes are still concerned: Marathon runner Paula Radcliffe, who has asthma, previously said she’s more concerned about heat and humidity than air pollution, but has said she may wear a mask while out and about. China is also hoarding diesel to run backup generators in case of power-grid failure, causing prices to rise.
Vancouver Olympics 2010: Organizers are testing various fuels in an attempt to make the torch as eco-friendly as possible. Also, the Vancouver organizing committee has a Director of Torch Relays. How awesome is that?
London Olympics 2012: Officials say the Games’ legacy will be the cleanup of tons of arsenic and tar left over from World War II.
2016 Olympics: Baku, Azerbaijan, will make a bid to host the 2016 Games, with the focus “placed on the remediation and transformation of the former on-shore oilfield Bibi-Heybat into a sustainable Olympic Park.”
Football: You’ve gotta read all the way to the end of this article on New England Patriots tackle Matt Light for the money quote:
Light, who butchers his own deer, views himself as somewhat of a naturalist. He and Susie are raising organic beef on their farm in Ohio and have adopted principles of the Maker’s Diet espoused by Jordan Rubin, which boasts that it is “based on Biblical principles.”
“We’re going green,” Light says. “Of course, that applies at both ends. If you’re going green, you’re probably blowing green. Trust me.”
Skateboarding: Bob Burnquist will this fall unveil a shoe partially made of hemp.
Basketball: The Seattle Storm is “the first WNBA team to make a commitment to reduce its carbon footprint,” according to a press release, and is inviting fans to join in by signing a go green pledge.
Winter sports: If you were building a giant winter sports complex, why wouldn’t you call it SnOasis? You totally would. It’s gotten the go-ahead in Britain, though those pesky people who care about wildlife are concerned about its impact. Meanwhile, a study says things do not bode well for the Alpine ski industry, and many towns are now trying to boost tourism by offering golfing, cycling, saunas, and gyms.
Baseball: If you write an article about the Red Sox going green, must you use the phrase Green Sox? Apparently so. Unless you are writing about solar panels on Fenway Park, in which case, oddly, you need not mention the Sox at all.
Car racing: What do you get when you combine a “stunning Swiss blonde,” a racecar, and nuclear energy? The story of Simona Silvestro. Also, wood chips powered an entrant in the Green Grand Prix.
Soccer: “If you are a soccer fan going to watch Euro 2008 it could be worth having a vaccination to prevent catching a little known, but potentially fatal illness that is spread by ticks … In 2007, the number of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) cases requiring hospital treatment in Europe rose 30 percent to 13,000, with evidence pointing to warmer temperatures caused by global warming helping to spread the disease.” Don’t say you weren’t warned.
Golf: Donald Trump says environmental groups are misrepresenting the facts with their concerns that his planned Scottish golf course will harm wildlife.
Artificial turf: As usual, it’s controversial.
