The first Global
Forum for Sports and the Environment (G-ForSE) 2001 took place
on 2nd November 2001 under the joint cooperation of NPO Global
Sports Alliance (GSA) and the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP). The event brought together the representatives of athletes,
sports federations, sporting goods manufacturers and environmental
experts to discuss sports facilities, sports equipment, sports
events and the environment, and to work on the establishment of
a global standard.
The event was formally opened with a speech from His
Imperial Highness Prince Norihito Takamado and was followed by discussions
and a keynote speech from Mr. Tore J. Brevik, Spokesman and Director
for UNEP. Discussion panelists included Masako Unoura of the United
Nations University of Advanced Studies, Toru Kikuchi, a former sailboat
racer turned marine environmentalist and Dr. Jack T. Moyer, a marine
ecologist and President of the Oceanic Wildlife Society.
Other events included “Gaia Symphony No.4”,
a film presentation spreading the message of global environmental
preservation, and the “RECYCL’art (Sports Lover’s
Art) Exhibition”, an exhibition of prominent Japanese artists
using recycled sports equipment as their medium. Sports goods
donated by famous athletes such as Hideki Matsui of the Yomiuri Giants
baseball
team (now with the NY Yankees) and Japanese Olympic Hammer
Thrower, Kouji Murofushi were transformed into art pieces to illustrate
the
possibilities of recycling.
General Information
TITLE :
Global Forum for Sports and Environment (G-ForSE)
2001
DATE :
2 November 2001
PLACE :
Aoyama Spiral Hall
ORGANIZED BY :
The G-ForSE 2001 Executive Committee
CO-ORGANIZED BY :
NPO Global Sports Alliance (GSA)
United Nations Environmental
Programme (UNEP)
SUPPORTED BY :
International Olympic Committee (IOC)
Sports and Environment
CommitteeFederation International de Volleyball (FIVB)
Embassy of the Republic of Kenya
Embassy of Sweden Royal
Norwegian Embassy
Embassy of the Federative Republic of Brazil
Embassy
of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
GSA
and IOC Sport and Environment Commission Signing
Ceremony
Dr.
Pal Schmitt, the Chairman of the International Olympic
Committee’s (IOC) Sport and Environment Commission,
and Mr. Tadashi Yamamoto, Chairman of the Non-profit
organization Global Sports Alliance (GSA), signed a
cooperation agreement in the form of a Memorandum of
Understanding. The IOC Sport and Environment Commission,
UNEP and GSA will work together to implement the "Olympic
Movement's AGENDA 21" for Sports and Environment.
This includes the establishment of Global Standards
on Sports and Environment through G-ForSE. http://www.olympic.org/uk/organisation/commissions/environment/index_uk.asp
*Panel
Discussion
Theme:
Sports and the Environment
The afternoon
discussion panelists included Masako Unoura of the United Nations
University of Advanced
Studies, Toru Kikuchi, a former sailboat racer
turned
marine environmentalist, Dr. Jack T. Moyer, a marine
ecologist and President
of the Oceanic Wildlife Society, and Dr. Tatsuo
Okada, Executive Director of Global Sports Alliance (GSA)..
According
to Marine Biologist, Jack T. Moyer, coral is the forest
of the sea, but it will cease to exist within 30 years
if present conditions
continue. Rising sea levels and ocean temperature were
among the grave concerns raised in a shocking report
of the current state of the oceans and of the human misconception
that the sea
is a giant dumping ground where even simple objects,
such as a disposable lighter, can become a deadly weapon,
if
swallowed
by a small animal. He suggested that if people come
into direct contact with nature, they can develop a
respect and love for
the environment, and creating this opportunity is especially
important for children. Toru Kikuchi suggests we can
learn much by looking at the land from the position
of the ocean. In Japan
we see a coastline that has been built on over 80-percent
of its length, with polluted water running out from
its many rivers.
He points to the work of municipalities such as in
Fukuoka that are promoting an ocean environment where
microorganisms can flourish
and have a cleaning action on the surrounding sea.
Masako Unoura of the United Nations University of Advanced
Studies suggested
we stop thinking of garbage as garbage, but as raw
materials for reuse and stresses the importance of
increasing awareness
among top management of businesses and government.
Panel coordinator, Tatsuo Okada emphasized the importance
of developing links between
government, business citizens and NPOs in order to
yield more tangible results, but equally stressed the
importance of action
on an individual basis.
*Eco-Concert:
GAIA Symphony
G-ForSE
2001 offered the chance to understand
and appreciate environmental
issues through sports by showing "GAIA
SYMPHONY No.4" during the
forum. "GAIA SYMPHONY No.4" is
the first version of GAIA SYMPHONY
to be made in the 21st century,
and the father of "GAIA theory",
British scientist James Lovelock,
was present at the screening
in Tokyo.
Cast Dr.
James Lovelock (Scientist)Mr.
Gerry Lopez (Legend Surfer)Dr.
Jane Goodall (Pioneering
Chimpanzee Researcher)Mr. Bokunen
(Naka
Engraver)
What
is RECYCL’art?Part of the
G-ForSE 2001 program, RECYCL’art
(formerly known as Sport Lover’s
Art) is an exhibition of art made
from recycled sports equipment.
Athletes supporting the event included
Hideki Matsui of the Yomiuri Giants
(currently with the NY Yankees)
and Kouji Murofushi, a Japanese
Olympic Hammer Thrower. Under a
theme of "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle",
many top Japanese artists lent
their talents to the exhibition,
which went on public display during
G-ForSE 2001.
RECYCL’art
(2 November - 4 November) Place:
PF
Spiral Garden Artists:
Tetsuya Kawa, Risa Satoh, Noriaki
Hayashi, h.o etc. Support: Japanese
Olympic Hammer Thrower/ Kouji
Murofushi (GSA navigator)Yomiuri
Giants/
Hideki Matsui, Tokyo Verdi 1969,
Seibu Lions etc.
The event was formally opened with a speech from His
Imperial Highness Prince Norihito Takamado and was followed by discussions
and a keynote speech from Mr. Tore J. Brevik, Spokesman and Director
for UNEP. Discussion panelists included Masako Unoura of the United
Nations University of Advanced Studies, Toru Kikuchi, a former sailboat
racer turned marine environmentalist and Dr. Jack T. Moyer, a marine
ecologist and President of the Oceanic Wildlife Society.
Dr.
Pal Schmitt, the Chairman of the International Olympic
Committee’s (IOC) Sport and Environment Commission,
and Mr. Tadashi Yamamoto, Chairman of the Non-profit
organization Global Sports Alliance (GSA), signed a
cooperation agreement in the form of a Memorandum of
Understanding. The IOC Sport and Environment Commission,
UNEP and GSA will work together to implement the "Olympic
Movement's AGENDA 21" for Sports and Environment.
This includes the establishment of Global Standards
on Sports and Environment through G-ForSE.
