The Samoa XVI Pacific Games, held from 7–20 July 2019 brought together 5,000 athletes and officials to compete and take part in 27 sports.
As host of the XVI Pacific Games, Samoa declared its commitment to reduce marine litter and plastic pollution by eliminating single-use plastics and polystyrene use at the Games.
This was termed as “Greening the Games.”
All activities carried out to “Green the Games” were done so under the “Beautiful Samoa, Keep it Clean and Plastic-free” Campaign.
The impact
Over 1 million, 500 ml single-use plastic bottles were NOT available, used or discarded as rubbish during the XVI Pacific Games.
Over 3,200 native trees were planted in Samoa by visiting athletes and officials during the XVI Pacific Games as part of efforts to offset carbon emissions and to support Samoa’s Two Million Tree Campaign 2015–2020.
At least 60,000 people were reached through social media alone, as one aspect of a carefully planned and strategic communications campaign. Over 5 tonnes of waste were collected in Apia as part of clean-up efforts before the start of the XVI Pacific Games in Samoa in 2019. 5,000 athletes and officials were given free reusable bags to ensure they did not use single-use plastic bags (which they may have brought with them) while in Samoa.
7,500 native trees were planted across Upolu and Savaii by schools in Samoa to offset the carbon emissions of athletes and officials travelling to the XVI Pacific Games and in support of Samoa’s Two Million Tree Campaign 2015–2020. Capacity was built of 40 students from the National University of Samoa on how to conduct waste audits.
Structures in place to make this happen
An official “Greening of the Games” committee was established and included in the formal structure within the XVI Pacific Games. The role of this Greening of the Games committee was to coordinate and implement the Greening of the Games strategy.
Athletes, officials and volunteers were given free 1 litre water bottles they could use at any of the 350 water dispensers across all XVI Pacific Games venues and accommodation. These water dispensers provided free, cool, filtered water.
If 8,000 athletes, officials and volunteers refilled their 1 litre water bottle three times a day that would make 24,000 litres of water per day.
If the estimated 12,000 spectators at the 22 Games Venues each consumed 1 litre of water at the Games that would correlate to 24,000 single-use plastic water bottles a day.
If athletes, officials and volunteers were using the standard, disposable, single-use 500ml plastic water bottles for their 3 litres per day that would be 48,000 single-use plastic water bottles a day. Over the 14 days of the XVI Pacific Games that would have resulted in 1,008,000 bottles – over one million single-use plastic water bottles were prevented from entering the landfill. Of all marine debris that enters our ocean each year, 80% of this is from land-based sources.
This is over 1,000,000 saved.
What was done?
Private and public sector partnerships were established for positive environmental action to reduce single-use plastic water bottles and polystyrene.
9,000 reusable bags were provided to the XVI Pacific Games Office for distribution to athletes and officials, so they received at least two reusable bags each.
Over 350 water stations were established across all XVI Pacific Games venues, providing free, filtered, cool water for all.
8,000 1 litre, reusable water bottles were distributed to all athletes, officials and volunteers.
Sample waste audits were conducted by volunteers from 7–13 July from Pacific Games venues and accommodation to provide a snapshot of the waste trends during the XVI Pacific Games.
A Greening of the Games e-booklet was distributed to all Chef de Missions by the Pacific Games Office several weeks before the Games began to help prepare their teams.
Seven countries including Samoa, and the Voices of Athletes, participated in the Samoa Two Million Tree Campaign 2015–2020, planting native trees to help offset carbon emissions.
A communications campaign led to three Billboards constructed in Upolu and Savaii, two airport wall decals upon arrival, over 500 advertisements across two Samoa television stations including the official Pacific Games broadcast station, a social media campaign with a competition, information booth at the Pacific Games venues, training for Samoa media, and distribution of free environmentally friendly materials for athletes and officials.
Over 1,000 volunteers in Samoa participated in three clean-up events to collect waste across key points in Samoa before the XVI Pacific Games.
7,500 native trees were planted by 65 schools, 750 students and 100 teachers across Samoa to help offset carbon emissions and support Samoa’s Two Million Tree Campaign.
A sample survey on the Greening of the Games was undertaken resulting in collection of viewpoints of over 254 people at the XVI Pacific Games.
Partnerships
These were formed in many ways:
The Greening of the Games committee worked together to drive and guide the Greening of the Games activities. This was co-chaired by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and included the Pacific Games Office (PGO), Samoa Tourism Authority, Ministry of Women Community and Social Development, Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture, UN Environment and Samoa Recycling and Waste Management Association.
Private partnerships between the Pacific Games Office helped drive good environmental practices such as that between the private sector water companies in Samoa and Australia.
Donor support was a key part to achieving success for the Greening of the Games which included the British High Commission in Apia, Clean Seas programme of the UN Environment, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia, Government of New Zealand, Government of Samoa, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme and Zerobags New Zealand.
Offsetting carbon emissions from the XVI Pacific Games.
Samoa’s Two Million Tree Campaign 2015–2020 coordinated by the Forestry Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment undertook a campaign to work with schools from across Samoa to raise awareness on green practices and plant native trees before and after the XVI Pacific Games.
Awareness was raised amongst athletes and officials of competing countries of the opportunity for them to participate in tree planting activities to help offset their carbon emissions.
A 50-Day Out campaign was launched by the Pacific Games Office to encourage visiting athletes and officials to the XVI Pacific Games to plant trees in their home countries before they departed for Samoa.
Waste Audits
Organised by MNRE and SPREP, training was provided for 40 volunteers – students of the National University of Samoa on how to conduct a waste audit. From 7–13 July, a sample waste audit was undertaken each afternoon. This saw volunteers and partners sift and sort the different types of waste collected from across key Pacific Games venues and accommodation. The information from the sample waste audits were promoted and shared at the information booth.
600 waste receptacles were in place across the XVI Pacific Games venues coordinated by the MNRE and the PGO with support from SPREP. These clearly marked the different types of rubbish that were to go in them. Waste in these receptacles was then discarded of accordingly – recyclable and non-recyclable waste.
Strategic Communications Campaign
The Beautiful Samoa Keep it Clean and Plastic-Free campaign was formed under which all communication activities were held. A strategy was developed which explored a wide range of communications avenues to help raise awareness, understanding and empower good environmental behavior.
Under this campaign there were television commercials, social media activities, billboards erected on Upolu and Savaii, wall decals at the arrivals section of the airport, e-booklets were developed, posters were printed and displayed across key venues and sights in Apia, hanging banners across the Pacific Games venues, an information booth at the Pacific Games venue, distribution of environmentally friendly promotional products and full page ads in Pacific regional magazines.
Lessons learnt from Greening the XVI Pacific Games
Commitments to the right green practices must be in place with contracted suppliers of the Pacific Games Office – water suppliers must agree to actions to reduce single-use plastic water bottles, and caterers must agree to use non-polystyrene and non-single-use plastic catering products. These must be key parts of their legal contractual agreements and must be monitored and enforced.
Official inclusion of a Greening of the Games committee must be part of any Pacific Games Office or structure. This also indicates the support from Government to encourage good environmental practices.
Enough time for extensive fundraising, preparation and implementation of the Greening of the Games is needed. This was a costly exercise with very positive outputs, yet more may have been able to be done with a longer lead-in time.
Sessions on Greening of the Games must be included in the preparatory work whether through workshops or meetings with the Chef de Missions, in the lead up to the Pacific Games. It must be stressed to them that the information must be shared with their team managers, coaches and athletes before, during and after the Pacific Games.
Partnerships are vital to a successful Greening of the Games – amongst all sectors such as, but not limited to, private sector, NGO’s, government agencies and departments. Monitoring of the adherence to the Greening of the Games principles must be undertaken before and during the Games themselves to ensure compliance.
Greening of the XVI Pacific Games Legacy
There is an increased awareness of and interest in green Pacific events and an understanding as to why this is important, across the Pacific island region, based on the success of the Greening of the XVI Pacific Games.
8,000 athletes, officials and volunteers were equipped with reusable water bottles to use in their home countries contributing to the overall reduction of single-use plastic water bottles across the Pacific.
5,000 athletes and officials received at least two reusable bags each to also use in their home countries, contributing to the overall reduction of single-use plastic bags across the Pacific.
150 of the 350 water stations that were used for the Games will be donated and installed in schools across Samoa free of charge.
Over 10,000 native trees planted in Samoa contributing to growth of the national carbon sink.
Development of an adaptable and usable step-by-step guide highlighting best practices and options to undertake, to empower Pacific islands to organise and implement their own “Green” events.
Continuation of awareness promoting good waste behaviours in Samoa across national media and social media.
Commitment by the Government of Solomon Islands as host of the next Pacific Games to “Green the Games”.
Key outcomes of the sample survey on Greening of the Games
It was largely felt:
• The environmental message to be clear.
• There were enough water stations present. A greater proportion of athletes felt this way than did the general public.
• The purpose of the bins (general waste or recyclables) was clear.
• The bins were in good locations.
• Participants used the bins as asked, they sorted their general rubbish from recyclables.
Acknowledgments
Fa’afetai tele lava to all who played a role in helping to achieve positive impacts for our Pacific environment during the Greening of the XVI Pacific Games.
For further information on the Greening of the XVI Pacific Games please contact SPREP at [email protected] or Mr. Anthony Talouli at [email protected]
PO Box 240, Apia, Samoa • +685 21929
[email protected] • www.sprep.org