Croatian Olympic Committee Participates in the OCEAN Project Meeting in Prague

The Croatian Olympic Committee, as one of the partners in the OCEAN Project, took part in a series of meetings and workshops held from December 3 to December 5, 2024, in Prague. These events brought together representatives from National Olympic Committees across Europe to review progress, share experiences, and work collaboratively on sustainable practices in sports.

The first part of the meetings, held on December 3, focused on analyzing the current state and challenges faced by National Olympic Committees in implementing measures to reduce carbon emissions. Special attention was given to the development of a new tool for measuring carbon footprints, which will enable more accurate monitoring and planning of emissions related to organizing sports events. Additionally, discussions covered innovative approaches to involving athletes as sustainability ambassadors and aligning sponsorship agreements with sustainability goals.

The workshops held on December 4 and 5 emphasized the development and monitoring of strategies to reduce emissions. Participants discussed best practices, potential barriers, and ways to improve communication on the importance of sustainability. The need to integrate sustainable practices into the daily operations of sports organizations was highlighted, along with a focus on transparent monitoring and regular evaluation of results.

Participants also addressed the broader global context of climate change and its impact on sports. Scientific reports underlined the urgency of immediate action to reduce emissions and highlighted the opportunities presented by climate transitions for the development of sports and broader communities.

The Croatian Olympic Committee is actively contributing to the goals of the OCEAN Project and proudly emphasizes its commitment to developing the tools, strategies, and education necessary to reduce the carbon footprint. Collaboration with other National Olympic Committees and the exchange of knowledge are essential foundations for achieving sustainable changes that will benefit the entire sports sector in the long term.

Plans for the continuation of the project include:

• Drafting a carbon reduction strategy (December 2024 – January 2025), including sharing drafts among project partners.
• Securing internal approval of the strategy within each organization (January – February 2025).
• Submitting a 90% finalized strategy to project management (by March 14, 2025).
• Delivering the final version of the strategy to the European Commission (by April 25, 2025).
• Developing a communication and launch plan and joining the UN’s "Sports for Climate Action" framework (by April 2025).

With this plan, the OCEAN Project continues to lead sustainable initiatives in sports, with the active involvement of the Croatian Olympic Committee in building a more sustainable future for the sports sector.