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Who is AEF ?
The Athens Environmental
Foundation
(AEF) is a non-profit 501c3,
non-governmental organization established to organize, support and promote
global environmental awareness, education, responsibility and
sustainability associated with the 2004 Olympiad in Athens, Greece and
future Olympic games.
In 1994, the
International Olympic Committee (IOC) adopted the Environment as the third
pillar of the Olympic charter, along with Sport and Culture. Since that
time, environmental responsibility has been at the heart of the Olympic
movement. AEF is dedicated to addressing environmental issues at all
Olympic games. We began at Salt Lake City 2002 where we were awarded the
Spirit of The Land Award. We continue on, implementing programs in Greece
and around the world. We will be in Torino in 2006, Beijing in 2008 and
beyond.
Our Idea
AEF
was initially borne out of concern for the compelling
environmental issues facing the nation of Greece as it prepares to host
the 2004 Olympic games. As the organization took form, however, it became
apparent that on the momentous occasion of the homecoming of the Games to
Greece, an unprecedented opportunity to focus world attention on global
environmental issues emerged. The birthplace of the Olympics and the
Olympic ideals manifested through sport, culture and the environment, are
founded on the Greek philosophy of bringing the world together in peace
through sport.
As the largest spectator event on the planet, the
platform of the Olympic games is a powerful vehicle to transmit messages
and raise awareness. The return of these Games, however, to their home for
the first time in our lifetime, presents a unique and unprecedented
opportunity to reach a global audience primed by the excitement of the
extraordinary nature of this one Olympiad. |
