AIMS ANNOUNCES ‘GREEN AWARD’ TO BE PRESENTED
AT ‘BEST MARATHON RUNNER’ AWARD GALA
The Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) is proud to announce a special new award for good environmental practice in distance running events, the ‘AIMS Green Award’. AIMS Members, made up of over 350 of the World’s leading distance races from 100 countries and territories, will be able to submit an application to be considered for this award.
The AIMS Green Award will be given to the AIMS member that best showcases good practice in the protection of the environment when organising a distance running event. The award will be presented at the inaugural 'AIMS BEST MARATHON RUNNER’ (BMR) Award Gala which will take place on the evening of Friday 8 November 2013 in Athens, Greece.
AIMS’ intention is not only to honour the environmental initiatives of its members, but also to help them improve their races by employing good environmental practices in their events. To this end, AIMS , in collaboration with the Institute Team for the World Environmental Alliance 2004+ , a scientific non-governmental not-for-profit organization headed by Mr. George Kazantzopoulos, Member of the IOC Sport & Environment Commission since 2002, has established a set of environmental guidelines, in line with the IOC Olympic Movement’s Agenda 21, over and above the creation of the AIMS Green Award.
AIMS President Paco Borao comments: “As members of the international running community, we all have a responsibility to be environmentally conscious. I am very proud to see AIMS recognising and promoting this responsibility through the AIMS Green Award.”
About AIMS:
AIMS is a member based organisation and since being established in 1982 has grown to embrace more than 350 of the World’s leading distance races, from 100 countries and territories. AIMS Members come from every continent on the planet and includes renowned distance races such as the Boston Marathon, the World’s oldest Marathon. The three key objectives of AIMS are as follows:
1. To foster and promote distance running throughout the World.
2. To work with the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) on all matters relating to international road races.
3. To exchange information, knowledge and expertise among members of the Association
About the IOC Olympic Movement’s Agenda 21:
Agenda 21 was established in June 1992 at a meeting of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) as a plan of action for the introduction of sustainable development in the 21st century.
In 1999 the Olympic Movement (OM) adopted Agenda 21: Sport for Sustainable development. Based on the UNCED model, it lays down a clear pathway for sustainable development throughout the sporting World. Stakeholders include International and National Sports Federations, National Olympic Committees, Organising Committees of the Olympic Games (OCOGs) and youth Olympic Games (YOCOGs), sponsors, government partners, the sporting goods industry, athletes, youth and the media.
The starting point for The Olympic Movement’s Agenda 21 is that national approaches and policies on sports and environment should recognise that athletes need a healthy environment in which to train and perform at their optimum. In addition, the document embraces the three tenets of sustainable development: Improving socioeconomic conditions, conservation and management of natural resources and strengthening the role of major groups such as women, young people and indigenous people.
AIMS GREEN AWARD SELECTION PROCESS
Application forms may be submitted by any AIMS Member regardless of the nature of the race event (marathon, half marathon, other distances) acknowledging, if applicable, the contribution of any other entity involved in the project e.g. local or central authority, sports club, federation, business related to marathon events, individuals, non-governmental organizations.
Candidates can cover projects related to:
• Event Environmental Management and activities
• Awareness raising for environment and sustainability issues in the frame of a distance running event
• Media coverage and production of audiovisual material to promote sustainability in distance races
• Local AGENDA 21 initiatives established by local authorities,
• Organising Committees or groups incorporating sustainable practices in the frame of a distance running event
• Protection and enhancement of biodiversity in the frame of a distance running event
• Protection of cultural heritage in the frame of a distance running event
REVIEW AND JUDGING
A screening and research process will result in three projects being shortlisted by 10 August 2013. This screening will be performed by a panel of three that will consist of AIMS representation and independent judges. The shortlist will be presented to the AIMS Board of Directors which will take the final award selection decision. The winner will serve as a model for others and be presented with their award at the inaugural 'AIMS BEST MARATHON RUNNER’ (BMR) Award Gala on the evening of Friday 8 November 2013 in Athens, Greece.
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