With three vital United Nations COP meetings taking place in the coming weeks to address biodiversity, desertification and climate change, the recent Sport Positive conference allowed World Aquatics to join others in continuing to ensure that sport plays a key role in delivering positive change. 

Held in conjunction with the IOC and the UN’s Sport For Climate Action programme, of which World Aquatics became a signatory earlier this year, Sport Positive included a focus on Paris 2024, whose approach to aquatics competitions, in particular, showcased its commitment to legacy and sustainability.  

Image Source: Summer McIntosh of Canada competing in the Women's 200m Butterfly Heats in the La Defense Arena pool during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (Al Bello/Getty Images)

Using temporary pools in an existing stadium, pioneered by World Aquatics and its partner Myrtha Pools, meant no new permanent construction was necessary for the swimming competitions and water polo finals. Instead, the La Défense Arena is already returning to its regular use as a concert and sport venue. The tanks which formed the Olympic pools are being redeployed to the Seine Saint Denis region north of Paris, an area historically underserved by swimming pools and with relatively low rates of swimming literacy.

Image Source: The Olympic Aquatic Centre was home to diving, water polo and artistic swimming during the Paris 2024 Games (World Aquatics)

 

The new permanent Olympic Aquatic Centre, also in Seine Saint Denis, is an exemplar in sustainable construction and low-energy design. Its roof houses Europe’s biggest solar power farm. The centre is becoming the new home of the French Aquatics Federation (FFN), serving its local community and hosting future international competitions, including the European Aquatics Championships 2026.  

Meanwhile, at Sport Positive, meetings involved World Aquatics, future World Aquatics Championships host Sport Singapore, Olympic swimmer and sustainability activist Naoko Imoto and Aquatics GB.  

For Sport Singapore, the challenge of heating water sustainably does not arise: tap water is a competition-ready 26-degree centigrade. “Our energy requirements are very different from those of colder countries. But we are very interested in learning how other organisers from the world of sport and music are delivering their events more sustainably, from reducing single-use plastics to the legacy use of temporary pools,” said Sport Singapore Senior Manager for Infrastructure Development Jonathan Lim.  

Image Source: Adam Peaty of Team GB competes at the Paris 2024 Olympics (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Aquatics GB launched its environmental sustainability strategy in April of this year, strongly focusing on the planet’s precious aquatic ecosystems. Thanks to campaigning by swimmers and those who represent them, water quality in rivers and around the UK’s coast has been placed on the national agenda. Aquatics GB has also been carefully considering the best ways to improve its impact, including the reuse and recycling of the kit provided to its teams.  

Image Source: World and Olympic champion Gregorio Paltrinieri of Italy helping clean up the beach in Yas Bay before the 2021 World Aquatics Swimming Championships in Abu Dhabi, UAE (World Aquatics)

World Aquatics Development Manager Vita Balsyte explained, “At World Aquatics, we are encouraged to look constantly at ways to improve in the same spirit as our sports’ athletes. Clearly, sport has decided collectively to improve its impact on the planet and use the massive influence of our events and activities to deliver improvements for our climate and nature. It was a privilege to have the opportunity to learn from others and to share what we have already learned ourselves as World Aquatics takes important steps towards a world united people by water.”