SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, FRANCE (Tuesday, 23 July 2024) – On Tuesday at Le Golf National, the host venue of the Paris 2024 Olympic golf competitions, the International Golf Federation (IGF), the French Golf Federation and the Swiss Golf Federation became signatories of the Sports for Nature Framework. Sports for Nature is a joint initiative of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), International Olympic Committee (IOC), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy.
Sports for Nature aims to deliver transformative action for nature across sports, by 2030 and beyond, enabling sports to champion nature and contribute to its protection and restoration. It provides a game plan for sports — at all levels — to accelerate and inspire others to take action for nature. The IGF, the French Golf Federation and the Swiss Golf Federation join other Sports for Nature partners in an effort to drive positive change and lead by example in the sports community.
“Sports for Nature is honored to welcome these three signatories, expanding the commitment of both the Olympic movement and the golf communities,” said Meredith McCurdy, Programme Leader, Sports for Nature, IUCN. “It’s especially unique that we can officially welcome these organisations at Le Golf National, a course that has made significant efforts towards protecting and restoring onsite biodiversity.”
The Sports for Nature Framework provides four principles to guide the actions of sports organizations to make contributions towards nature: (1) Protect nature and avoid damage to natural habitats and species; (2) Restore and regenerate nature wherever possible; (3) Understand and reduce risks to nature in your supply chains; (4) Educate and inspire positive action for nature across and beyond sport.
“By signing the Sports for Nature Framework, the IGF reinforces its commitment to sustainability and recognises the leadership role we play in guiding the sport of golf to make a positive impact on the environment,” said IGF Executive Director Antony Scanlon. “It’s important that those in the golf industry do everything we can to protect and restore nature, especially at golf courses around the globe. I am appreciative of the French Golf Federation and the Swiss Golf Federation for their activism in this area and I know they will be great partners as we continue to explore and implement sustainability measures to ensure the future of golf for generations to come.”
Le Golf National, which will host the men’s and women’s Olympic golf competitions and is also home to the annual FedEx Open de France on the DP World Tour, is a model for the commitment to sustainability. Under the leadership of the French Golf Federation, the venue has reduced water usage across the two courses by 40 pct. from 2018 to 2023. In the run-up to and during the Olympic golf competitions, mowers have been equipped with sensors to monitor soil moisture so that interventions and watering can be measured out with even greater precision. In the latest study of Le Golf National’s biodiversity, conducted by the National Museum of Natural History, it was determined that the property is home to 409 different species of flora and fauna, including 13 heritage species and 33 species in decline.
“We are incredibly proud to join the Sports for Nature Framework as nature is part of the DNA of golf,” said Christophe Muniesa, General Manager of the French Golf Federation. “We know that the beautiful nature in our golf courses is diversified, rich but also under threat. We have long been committed to preserving it and want to ensure that golf courses are an integral part of the solution to preserve the environment, alongside our partner the National Museum of Natural History. The Sports for Nature Framework will allow us to promote and share our best practices, raise awareness among golfers but also inspire them to progress.”
“Swiss Golf has been championing the values of sustainability and environmental stewardship for quite some time,” said Etienne Marclay, Board Member and Chairman of the Sustainability Committee for the Swiss Golf Federation. “By signing the Sports for Nature Framework, which aligns perfectly with our vision and strategy, we reaffirm our dedication to preserving and enhancing the biodiversity and the precious ecosystems on golf courses for future generations.”
The following individuals formally signed the Sports for Nature framework on behalf of their organisations: Antony Scanlon, Executive Director, International Golf Federation; Christophe Muniesa, General Manager, French Golf Federation; Etienne Marclay, Board Member and Chairman of the Sustainability Committee, Swiss Golf Federation. Scanlon, Muniesa, and Marclay were joined in the photos by Meredith McCurdy, Programme Leader, Sports For Nature and Tania Braga, Head of Legacy, International Olympic Committee.
Other signatories of the Sports For Nature Framework include the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), World Triathlon and World Taekwondo. For the full list of signatories, please visit: https://sportsfornature.org/signatories/.
Media Contacts
International Golf Federation – Tad Dickman, +1(703) 477-2699, taddickman@igfmail.org
French Golf Federation – Michael Akrich, michael.akrich@ffgolf.org
Swiss Golf Federation – Jérôme Reynard, jerome.reynard@swissgolf.ch
IUCN, Sports for Nature team – Jana Janotova, Engagement Officer, Jana.Janotova@iucn.org
About the International Golf Federation
The International Golf Federation (IGF) was founded in 1958 and is the recognised International Federation within the Olympic and Paralympic Movement. The headquarters of the IGF is located by the shores of Lake Geneva in Lausanne, Switzerland.
About the French Golf Federation
Founded in 1912 under the name Union des golfs de France, the French Golf Federation is an association governed by the law of 1901, declared to be of public utility on 9 April 1975 and approved by the Ministry of Sport. It currently has over 445,000 members, up from 20,000 in 1970, 38,783 in 1980, 181,147 in 1990, 291,754 in 2000 and 407,530 in 2010. Golf’s growth is by far one of the most impressive in French sport over the last 30 years. The ffgolf is fully committed to the sustainable development of golf in France through the rational management of water, the sustainable maintenance.
About Swiss Golf
Founded in 1902, Swiss Golf (formerly Association Suisse de Golf) is the umbrella association for golf in Switzerland. With over 100 members and more than 100,000 golfers, it is Swiss Olympic’s seventh-largest sports association. Swiss Golf promotes golf, creates an open and attractive environment, supports its members and develops its talents into top athletes. Swiss Golf is committed to sustainability, health and the lifelong enjoyment of golf.
About Sports for Nature:
Sports for Nature is a joint initiative of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), International Olympic Committee (IOC), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, and Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy. It aims to deliver transformative action for nature across sports, by 2030 and beyond, enabling sports to champion nature and contribute to its protection and restoration. It provides a game plan for sports — at all levels — to accelerate and inspire others to take action for nature. For more information, visit the Sports for Nature website.
