President National Olympic Committee Sierra Leone Dr. Patrick Coker said the International Olympic Committee considers the environment as an integral dimension of Olympism; alongside sports and culture, adding that in 1995, it created its Sports and Environment Commission to advice on the promotion of sustainable development and environment responsibility.
The IOC according to Coker has influenced the development of the Sports and Environment Agenda at national and international levels maintaining that it strives to promote Olympic Games which respect the environment and meet the standard of sustainable development.
Coker disclosed that the IOC World Conference on Sports and the Environment brings together representatives and partners of the Olympic Movement, as well as representatives of other entities like governments, international and non-governmental organizations among others.
Responding, Director EPA Momodu Alrashid Bah commended NOC for their efforts to establish partnership with them that promote environmental sustainability in sports. He maintained that the partnership is an outstanding model of cooperation for common goal.
The seminar according to Mr. Bah is timely as the New Direction is moving towards a low carbon emission and a climate resilient development trajectory to provide a clean, healthy and sustainable environment for all Sierra Leoneans and to contribute towards poverty reduction in achieving sound environmental management and sustainable development.
