Torino 2006 is aiming to become one of the first major truly green sports event. Besides the football World Cup in Germany later this year, the Winter Games is this year's first big sports event that have taken a 'lifecycle approach' to the organisation, according to the wise men in EU's environmental institutions. This includes everything from the managment of waste and water to area preservation. The reward is a socalled EMAS certification - a European eco managment and eco labelling scheme.

For example the main Olympic Village is, according to Toroc, a showcase for sustainable architecture, with its 39 buildings that will house 2.500 athletes. Solar panels have been installed to warm sanitation water, south-oriented glass surfaces optimise sun exposure during winter, rain water is used to irrigate the green areas and low energy light bulbs are used.

The media village will serve as a students residence after the games, meets the European Eco-label criteria for reduced energy and water consumption, reduced waste production, the use of renewable resources, bio architecture and of material which are less hazardous to the environment. It is also about to be awarded the European Eco-label as an example of how to address the sustainable use of facilities once the event is
over.

Though WWF in Italy originally criticised the Torino 2006 organising committe for building ski jump platform in an area where there are endangered animals like wolves, the same WWF issued a statement a few days ago where they are mainly positive of what has been done to fulfill the green agenda of the upcoming Olympics.