In collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and international bodies, such as the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Paris 2024 has taken the initiative to update, introduce and implement the following standards:
Updating the ISO 20121 Event Sustainability Management Systems Standard
Based on its own certification obtained in October 2022, Paris 2024 has spearheaded the enhancement of the ISO 20121 standard, pioneered by London 2012. The revised ISO 20121:2024 standard, approved in February 2024, now encompasses a wider scope to address topics such as impact and legacy, human rights, climate action and accessibility. The standard aims to help organisations integrate sustainability throughout the entire event management cycle. Paris 2024 has collaborated with ISO to help them align with Paris 2024’s actions to reduce its carbon footprint while maximising social and economic benefits. Adhering to the ISO 20121 standard is a requirement for all Organising Committees of the Olympic Games.
OECD Guides on Impact Assessment
Building on the 2018 Recommendation on Global Events and Local Development, in July 2023, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published guides to help event organisers monitor and evaluate the social, economic and environmental impacts of their events. Paris 2024 is the first to benefit from these guidelines. Since 2021, the Paris 2024 Organising Committee has collaborated with the IOC and OECD to create key performance indicators (KPIs) for assessing the long-term impact of the Games. The IOC now requires future Games hosts to use these OECD guidelines, ensuring consistent and reliable assessment of each edition’s legacy.
Promoting Active Citizens in Active Cities
One of Paris 2024’s key legacies is getting more people across France to move more, and make sport more widely accessible. The Paris 2024 Terre de Jeux programme has inspired over 50,000 sports-related projects since 2019. To ensure long-lasting impact, the IOC, with support from TOP Partner Deloitte launched an initiative to assist Terre de Jeux cities in applying for the Ville Active et Sportive label – a label awarded by the Conseil National des Villes Actives et Sportives (CNVAS), which recognises French cities with an innovative sports policy that offers a wide range of physical activities to the population. As of 2024, a total of 860 municipalities have been awarded the label, including 726 Terre de Jeux cities, such as Paris, Saint Denis, Saint Dizier, Ile Saint Denis and Albertville.
Championing Gender Equality On and Off the Field of Play: Terrain d’égalité Label
Along with the French Ministry for Gender Equality, Diversity and Equal Opportunities and the Ministry of Sports, Paris 2024 has contributed to the development and implementation of the Terrain d’égalité Label, which recognises international sports events based in France committed to mainstreaming gender equality and combatting discrimination. Awarded this label in January 2024, Paris 2024 is dedicated to setting the highest standards for gender equality in sport.
For the Olympic Games Paris 2024, the IOC has created equal opportunities for male and female athletes to participate on the world’s largest sporting stage. The quota places were distributed 50:50. This means the Olympic Games Paris 2024 are gender equal.
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