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When the idea of sustainable development was first articulated in 1987, many of us thought the notion so compelling that it would be readily accepted and implemented. Almost three decades later, it is clear that the challenges of developing sustainably are considerably greater than anticipated. While we have advanced in a great many areas, our planet is still in many respects gradually losing its capacity to support human life, or at least life of a quality most of us would consider a bare minimum.The conclusion is inescapable – we will need quickly to shift our economic development, our production and consumption patterns, and our personal lifestyles onto sustainable pathways or we will leave to our children a legacy of social conflict, environmental degradation and a rapid narrowing of options for the future.Nor can sustainable development be seen as the portfolio of the environment minister while the others get on with business as usual. Sustainability will have to be built into every aspect of our economic, social and personal lives. It is everybody’s business.So, what is the role and responsibility of the Olympic Movement and how does it relate to the sustainable development challenge? There is, of course, the footprint of the Games themselves. Today the Olympic Games strive to meet strict “green” characteristics – both in terms of how the facilities are constructed and later used – and in the actual operation of the Games, from pollution-free transport, recycling of waste and maximum use of renewable energy. That this is now a regular feature of Olympic Games all over the world is to be celebrated, but it should be taken further.There are, indeed, important links between top-level sports and the challenge of sustainable development. First, the single greatest challenge in promoting sustainable development is to overcome a fundamental dilemma. Sustainable development argues for long-term gain, often at the price of short-term sacrifice. At the same time, the reward from short-term behaviour is often immediate, tangible and easily understood, and the cost put off until another time, often another place, with the bill accruing to others or to future generations. When the reward is in front of our eyes and the benefits of foregoing it are nebulous and often poorly understood, it is not surprising that so many choose the immediate gain.Top-level sports, however, understand the long term. No athlete arrives at the Olympic Games having trained for a week at home. All of them, without exception, have been through years of rigorous training, inevitably involving constant personal sacrifice in the search for longer-term success. The disciplines of the elite athlete are a strong parallel with those we have to make to achieve sustainable development. The notion of short-term sacrifice for longer-term gain is one that they are steeped in, often from early childhood.In a world flooded with information and appeals to one’s attention, the value of leaders and role models is significantly increased. Olympic athletes are considered heroes – they have sacrificed a great deal to get where they are, and their dedication to long-term success at the cost of short-term indulgence is a model for everyone. The athletes should be encouraged to make the link between their dedication and what is needed to save the planet. The public attention devoted to the Olympic Games is virtually unequalled and provides an opportunity to transmit messages in line with the values of the Olympic Movement.Finally, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) itself has been built on a foundation of values – of peace, fairness, excellence, mutual acceptance and understanding, and respect for achievement that have characterised the movement in the modern era. It sets the standards for the entire Olympic Movement, working with sports associations across the globe through a network of National Olympic Committees. It represents a massive and dense network for the spreading of messages and for reaching a huge number of people on all continents. Leadership of the IOC in adopting sustainability as one of its core working principles and using its considerable capacity for communication to make the link between the values of the Olympic Movement and the future of the planet would be welcome and powerful. Indeed, it could end up being the IOC’s greatest legacy. ■Mark Halle is Executive Director of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), Europe. He is an expert on sustainable development and has written widely on the topic. For more information, see www.iisd.org26 OLYMPIC REVIEW COLUMN