Golf Business News – IGF, French Golf Federation and Swiss Golf Federation sign Sports For Nature Framework

Tuesday the 23rd^rd In July at Le Golf National, the venue that will host the Paris 2024 Olympic golf championships, the International Golf Federation (IGF), the French Golf Federation and the Swiss Golf Federation became signatories of the association. Natural Sports The outline. Natural Sports is a joint initiative of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), International Olympic Committee (IOC), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy.

Natural Sports aims to bring about environmental change in all sports, by 2030 and beyond, enabling sports to fight for the environment 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 in nature. The IGF, the French Golf Federation and the Swiss Golf Federation joined the others Natural Sports partners in the effort to drive positive change and lead by example in the sporting community.

“Nature Sports is honored to welcome these three signatories, increasing the commitment of both the Olympic movement and the golf communities,” said Meredith McCurdy, Program Leader, Nature Sports, IUCN. “It is very different that we can officially welcome these organizations to Le Golf National, a course that has made significant efforts to protect and restore biodiversity.”

I Natural Sports The framework provides four principles to guide the actions of sports organizations to make contributions towards the environment: (1) Protect the environment and avoid damage to natural areas and species; (2) Restore and regenerate the environment where possible; (3) Understand and mitigate environmental risks in your supply chain; (4) Teach and promote positive environmental action in all sports and beyond.

“By signing the Sports for Nature Framework, the IGF reinforces its commitment to sustainability and recognizes the leadership role we play in guiding the game of golf to have a positive impact on the environment,” said IGF Executive Director Antony Scanlon. “It is important that those in the golf industry do everything possible to protect and restore the environment, especially on golf courses around the world. I thank 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 sustainable methods to ensure the future of golf for generations to come.”

Le Golf National, which will host the men's and women's Olympic golf championships and is also home to the annual FedEx Open de France on the DP World Tour, is an example of a commitment to sustainability. Under the leadership of the French Golf Federation, the resort has reduced water consumption across the two courses by 40 percent. from 2018 to 2023. Before and during the Olympic golf tournaments, mowers are equipped with sensors to monitor soil moisture so that intervention and irrigation can be measured with even greater precision. In a recent study of the biodiversity of Le Golf National, carried out by the National Museum of Natural History, it was determined that the area is home to 409 species of plants and animals, including 13 heritage species and 33 endangered species.

“We are incredibly proud to join the Sports for Nature Framework as nature is part of golf's DNA,” said Christophe Muniesa, General Manager of the French Golf Federation. “We know that the beauty of our golf courses is diverse, rich but also vulnerable. We have long been committed to conservation and want to ensure that golf courses are an important part of the conservation solution, along with our partner the National Museum of Natural History. I Natural Sports The framework will allow us to promote and share our best practices, raising awareness among golfers but also encouraging them to improve.”

“Swiss Golf has been championing sustainability standards and environmental stewardship for a long time,” said Etienne Marclay, Board Member and Chair of the Swiss Golf Federation's Sustainability Committee. “By signing the Sports for Nature Framework, which aligns well with our vision and strategy, we confirm our commitment to preserving and enhancing biodiversity and the precious environment on golf courses for generations to come.”

The following persons have duly signed the Natural Sports panel 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 are joined in the photos by Meredith McCurdy, Program Leader, Sports For Nature and Tania Braga, Head of Legacy, International Olympic Committee.

For more information, visit the Sports for Nature website.