Demonstrating its continued commitment to environmental sustainability, the International Surfing Association (ISA) has today announced a partnership with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in support of the United Nations-led CleanSeas Campaign.
Launched in 2017, the CleanSeas Campaign is an environmental initiative aimed at engaging governments, the general public, civil society and the private sector in the fight against marine plastic litter.
The IOC and ISA’s pledges to the CleanSeas Campaign start on June 5, World Environmental Day, and come as part of a wider plan to call on sport, and the Olympic movement, to join the effort and implement sustainability strategy wherever possible.
As part of the partnership, the ISA has appointed the Chair of the ISA Athletes’ Commission, Justine Dupont (FRA) as an IOC CleanSeas Ambassador.
Furthermore, the ISA committed to the following sustainability goals in support of the CleanSeas Campaign:
- Include Sustainability as a core value of the ISA.
- Elect a Sustainability Partner by the end of 2018 to help identify best practices, develop recommendations, establish targets and define collaboration using the ISA World Championships and media as a platform to reach a wider audience.
- Develop a Sustainability Strategic plan by 2019.
- Abolish the use of single-use plastics at all ISA World Championships by 2019.
- Expand module on Sustainability in all ISA Educational Materials, including Coaching and Judging Courses to educate and empower Coaches, Instructors and Judges as Environmental Ambassadors by 2019.
ISA President, Fernando Aguerre, said:
“As a leader in our sport, and an organization with such strong ties to the ocean, the ISA is looking forward to taking a stand in tackling marine plastic pollution. By including Sustainability as a value, we look to make it a guiding principle in how we impact the home of our sport.
“By leading by example, we hope to spread the impact of sustainability practices around the world through our 103 Member Nations on all five continents, while also enlisting the influential voices of our Athletes’ Commission members to amplify this message.
“We are proud to work together with other key stakeholders of the Olympic family and join forces to make the world a better place through sport.”
IOC CleanSeas Ambassador and Chair of the ISA Athletes’ Commission, Justine Dupont (FRA), said:
“It’s an honor to take part in the United Nations-led CleanSeas campaign and work together with the IOC and ISA to spread and promote sustainability initiatives. I look forward to collaborating with the IOC as CleanSeas Ambassador to build a platform that allows us to educate and inspire others to join us in creating a global impact and reducing the tide of plastic waste flowing into our oceans.
“I believe that big changes start from the bottom up, so we can all take little, yet important, steps to protect our oceans for future generations to enjoy.”
Olympic Movement Sustainability Manager, Julie Duffus, said:
“I am delighted that ISA have joined us in the CleanSeas programme. Sport and sustainability is all about collaboration. This partnership between the IOC, the ISA and UN Environment is a good example of how sport can play a role as a catalyst for change. By working together, we are in a unique position to make an active contribution to society and the environment.”
About The International Surfing Association:
The International Surfing Association (ISA), founded in 1964, is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the World Governing Authority for Surfing. The ISA governs and defines Surfing as Shortboard, Longboard & Bodyboarding, StandUp Paddle (SUP) Racing and Surfing, Bodysurfing, Wakesurfing, and all other wave riding activities on any type of waves, and on flat water using wave riding equipment. The ISA crowned its first Men’s and Women’s World Champions in 1964. It crowned the first Big Wave World Champion in 1965; World Junior Champion in 1980; World Kneeboard Champions in 1982; World Longboard Surfing and World Bodyboard Champions in 1988; World Tandem Surfing Champions in 2006; World Masters Champions in 2007; and World StandUp Paddle (SUP, both surfing and racing) and Paddleboard Champions in 2012.
ISA membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies of 103 countries on five continents. Its headquarters are located in La Jolla, California. It is presided over by Fernando Aguerre (Argentina), first elected President in 1994 in Rio de Janeiro. The ISA’s four Vice-Presidents are KarĂn Sierralta (PER), Kirsty Coventry (ZIM), Casper Steinfath (DEN) and Barbara Kendall (NZL).
