Winter Olympics Get Bronze for Environmentalism | Business | GreenBiz.com

... praised organizers for building energy-efficient venues, using clean-energy sources, relying on public transit during the Games, and offsetting part of the event's emissions.

However, a report released this week also highlighted 'missed opportunities' and areas where the Games 'fell short.' ...

... "Climate change is a defining issue of our time, and the winter Olympics are an opportunity to show leadership by reaching and inspiring billions of fans and spectators with solutions to global warming," Foundation Spokesman Paul Lingl said. "The Vancouver Olympics will leave the region with few long-term improvements in sustainable transportation. To date the 2010 Olympic organisers haven't made the most of their opportunities to tell the story of their climate initiatives to Canadians and the world." ...

Canadian alpine ski team member, Kelly VanderBeek, agreed more needed to be done on making the Games green.

... "As a winter Olympian I see global warming firsthand: melting glaciers, changing snow patterns and the closing of lower-elevation hills," she said. "Winter sports are threatened by global warming and Canadian Olympic athletes are stepping forward and calling for action." ...