Individual Essay
1.0 Sustainable events are only possible when they are small and localised. Discuss, using examples.
Sustainable events are described as those which meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (IISD 2012). When developing sustainable events, planners need to view the event as a whole and how each part interacts and affects another and also need to take into consideration the effects that the event may have on the environment.
Sustainable events are not limited to being only small and localised; in some instances it may be easier to focus on the sustainability of a smaller event as it can be easier to take a holistic approach to a smaller scale event, however as is often the case, larger scale events generally have better knowledge and resources in order to become more sustainable, and many small events can be relatively unsustainable simply because there is a lack of pressure on these events to be mindful of the external environment.
There are a number of components which need to be taken into account when developing a sustainable event. These components will form the basis of the reasons why larger scale events can also be sustainable and how smaller events can sometimes be unsustainable by means of comparison of two appropriate events.
The London 2012 Olympics were held from July 27 – August 12 2012 and comprised 204 competing countries with over 10,000 athletes competing (Clark and Heseltine 2012). The Summer Olympics are arguably the best known events series internationally, being held every four years with successful host countries being chosen several years prior to the games themselves. With a successful committee of event developers known as the International Olympics Committee (IOC), planning for the event begins some ten years before the commencement of the games in which extensive research of the best possible location and use of resources is undergone in