Olympic Games Sustainability Calculator

Enter scores for ecological, social, and economic sustainability criteria to calculate an Olympic Games Sustainability Score. Rate each dimension — carbon footprint, legacy infrastructure, community impact, and more — on a 0–100 scale. You get back an overall sustainability score, individual dimension scores, and a breakdown chart so you can see exactly where any Games excels or falls short. Also try the Car vs Bike Calculator.

Select Olympic Games (Optional Preset) *

Choose a preset to auto-fill estimated scores, or select Custom to enter your own.

Carbon Footprint Score *

Rate the Games' CO₂ emissions performance (0 = very high emissions, 100 = carbon neutral).

Renewable Energy Use Score *

Score for the share of renewable energy used during the Games (0 = none, 100 = fully renewable).

Waste Management Score *

Score for waste reduction, recycling, and circular economy practices (0 = poor, 100 = excellent).

Biodiversity & Land Use Score *

Score for habitat preservation, green spaces, and minimal ecological disruption.

Community Well-being Score *

Score for positive effects on local residents' quality of life and social cohesion.

Inclusivity & Accessibility Score *

Score for accessibility, diversity initiatives, and equal participation opportunities.

Cultural Legacy Score *

Score for cultural promotion, heritage preservation, and long-term cultural impact.

Health & Safety Score *

Score for public health measures, athlete safety protocols, and medical preparedness.

Infrastructure Legacy Score *

Score for how well venues and infrastructure continue to benefit the host city after the Games.

Economic Benefit Score *

Score for tourism revenue, job creation, and long-term economic growth from hosting.

Cost Efficiency Score *

Score for how well the Games stayed within budget and avoided excessive public spending.

Results

Overall Sustainability Score

Ecological Score

Social Score

Economic Score

Sustainability Rating

Results Table

What is the Olympic Sustainability Model?

The Olympic Sustainability Model, developed by researchers including Müller et al. in 2021, evaluates the Games across three dimensions: ecological, social, and economic. Each dimension contains specific criteria scored from 0 to 100, and the overall sustainability score is the average of all three dimension scores. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has formally included sustainability as a core pillar of the Olympic agenda since 1992. See also our use the Local Food Miles Calculator.

How is the Olympic Games sustainability score calculated?

Each sustainability dimension (ecological, social, economic) is scored by averaging the individual criteria within it. For example, the ecological score is the average of carbon footprint, renewable energy, waste management, and biodiversity scores. The overall sustainability score is then calculated as the average of all three dimension scores, giving equal weight to ecology, society, and economy.

How sustainable was the Paris 2024 Olympics?

Paris 2024 set ambitious sustainability targets, including halving the carbon footprint compared to previous Games and using 100% renewable electricity. The Games achieved significant ecological milestones such as reusing 95% of existing venues, banning single-use plastics, and promoting active transport. Independent assessments generally rated Paris 2024 among the most ecologically progressive Games in recent history.

Which Olympic Games was the most sustainable?

Based on the Olympic Sustainability Model, summer Games in Western European cities with strong existing infrastructure and environmental regulations tend to score highest. Paris 2024 and London 2012 are often cited as top performers. Winter Games in dedicated resort areas typically face greater ecological challenges due to snow-making, terrain disruption, and remote infrastructure demands. You might also find our find Annual CO₂ Reduction with Green Cleaning Products Calculator useful.

Which Olympic Games was the least sustainable?

Rio de Janeiro 2016 is frequently cited as one of the least sustainable modern Games, due to issues including cost overruns, unfinished infrastructure, displacement of communities, and venues that fell into disuse after the Games. Beijing 2022 also received criticism for its ecological impact, particularly around artificial snow production in a water-scarce region.

What is considered a good sustainability score for the Olympics?

Based on the model used in academic research, a score above 70 out of 100 is generally considered good, indicating strong performance across ecological, social, and economic dimensions. Scores between 50 and 70 indicate moderate sustainability with significant room for improvement. Scores below 50 suggest the Games had notable negative impacts across one or more dimensions.

How can the Olympics be made more sustainable?

Key strategies include reusing existing venues rather than building new ones, sourcing 100% renewable energy, minimizing air travel for athletes and officials, implementing strict waste reduction programs, ensuring transparent budgeting, and planning for strong post-Games use of all infrastructure. The IOC's Olympic Agenda 2020+5 and the Future Host Commission now explicitly evaluate sustainability commitments when awarding host city rights.

What is the IOC sustainability strategy?

The IOC's sustainability strategy, embedded in Olympic Agenda 2020+5, focuses on climate action, nature protection, and people-centered development. It requires all future host cities to demonstrate carbon neutrality plans, protect biodiversity, and ensure social inclusivity. The IOC also works with the UN Environment Programme and publishes sustainability reports for each Games to track progress against commitments.