Olympic 'Green'?

An Olympic Games can never be a 'green' exercise. The 'greenhouse gas' emissions generated by transporting the multitude of competitors; their support staff; the media and large numbers of supporters, from all over the world, is unavoidably massive. Most folk will be coming in by jet plane. Scheduled flights have an enormous 'carbon footprint'. That from private jets, is even bigger. Even getting to Paris by car or train, is far from emissions free. People, then have to be accommodated; fed; watered and moved around. Some locations, like those used for surfing and rowing, weren't anywhere near Paris. Most events, however, were at least in the city (unlike some Soccer competitions). Having said this, the planners for the 2024 games, at least tried to mitigate their own four-yearly event's environmental impact (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/apr/07/paris-olympics-greenest-games-low-carbon). The organisers are to be applauded for using existing venues, rather than building new ones. New venues use lots of carbon dioxide-generating steel and concrete. These venues often become 'white elephants', when a game's closing ceremony takes place. Even adapting existing sites (with reused plastic seats etc) isn't, however, entirely carbon neutral. A possibly lasting benefit (although it was pretty 'touch-and-go' at the time) was the cleaning of the river Seine for some of the swimming events. A clean river, with fish populations, will be a clear benefit. The organisers weren't helped, however, by the arson attacks on the rail lines into Paris, at the start of the games (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/29/far-left-rail-sabotage-olympics-french-minister-suggests). Whoever was responsible, merely increased emissions by directing folk on to other means of transport. The report that the 'French public' had labelled the Paris event as 'the greenwash games' seems a tad harsh (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/aug/07/greenwash-games-french-public-points-finger-at-coca-cola-over-olympics-plastic-waste). Only a small section of the 'French public' were likely to have this view. Coca Cola (a sponsor) could have been more careful, given the message of the Paris games. Collecting lots of redundant plastic bottles for more recycling, isn't the worst environmental 'crime' by a sport sponsor. Reducing an Olympic's 'carbon footprint' is, however, a bit like attempting to lower the height of a tsunami. The Paris organisers at least managed to somewhat limit the associated emissions. Be grateful for small mercies?