The organizers of the 2010 Winter Olympics have worked to keep a promise made during Canada's bid for the Games eight years ago. That promise is to host the greenest Olympics yet, breaking the tradition of consumption and waste that typifies world-class sporting events.

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Building anticipation for 113 days

The time-honored Lighting Ceremony for the Olympic Flame took place today in a media-centric ceremony in Olympia, site of the first Olympic Games in ancient Greece. Amid ancient ruins, the ceremony started with the harnessing of the power of the sun: The first torch was lit by holding it in a parabolic mirror.

Greek skier Vassilis Dimitriadis, the first torchbearer for the Greek portion of the relay, departed from the stadium for a relay through Greece. This first stage of the torch relay will conclude on October 29 at the Olympic Flame Handover Ceremony in Athens. Canadian officials will take possession of the flame and fly it to Victoria BC. There begins the longest domestic torch relay in Olympic history, involving more than 1,030 locations in Canada, 12,000 torchbearers -- and about 2,000 reporters, who planners hope will create massive media attention for the upcoming Games.

Igniting sustainability for generations

The Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) has been challenged on its

Lighting of Olympic Flame from the focused beams of the sun in the Temple of Hera at a Lighting Ceremony rehearsal Oct 20, 2010. (IOC photo)

green claims, but it has made an undeniable contribution by developing models for sustainability. In fact, VANOC has even been recognized for its methods of documenting and sharing ideas and experiences, from greening the supply chain and energy sources to green building and transportation.

Concepts are shared in regular reports, toolkits and conferences.

If these ideas are adapted and applied in private and public sectors, then VANOC and the City of Vancouver can take credit for igniting a new level of passion for sustainability that will reach around the world and last far beyond February 2010.