Those of us who call the Reno-Tahoe region home live in one of the most beautiful parts of the world. Lake Tahoe is at the top of the list of the most photographed natural wonders in the world. The sensitive nature of our environment is of absolute importance to all of us. Any bid to host the Olympic Winter Games would be formed with the utmost consideration to our environmental issues. The International Olympic Committee has adopted the Environment as the Fourth Pillar of the Olympic Movement.
The four Pillars include: the Athletes, Sports, Culture and the Environment. Additionally, the IOC endorses the efforts of the United Nations in including a white-paper entitled Agenda 21 that further outlines the efforts of the IOC and its constituencies to observe and include the guidelines as a vital part of any bid effort. The Reno-Tahoe area, and in particular Lake Tahoe and its area communities, have a number of strong advocates for maintaining and enhancing the environment. These groups, of all interest levels and types, will be included to the greatest extent possible in the development and presentation of the bid and in developing environmentally-friendly means of planning and conducting the Games. The coordination of all of the existing, and any groups formed in the future, will be an ongoing effort for Games organizers. The existence and current community status of existing environmental groups will add to the credibility of the bid for International Olympic Committee officials and members. The ultimate goal of the bid would be to not only alleviate the environmental footprint of hosting the Games, but to also enhance environmental sustainability throughout the region for years after hosting the Games.
