Green Initiative
2010 USSA Cross-Country
Junior Olmypics
by Hilary McNamee
Last year the organizers of Cross-Country Junior Olympics
in Truckee, CA did a bang-up job of hosting an environmentally
friendly competition. We hope to carry on this trend. Nordic
Heritage Sport Club and the Maine Winter Sports Center have
embraced this event as an opportunity to affect change in our
community and to show that we can host a world-class event using
fewer and greener resources.
As enthusiasts of a sport that is dependant on the existence
of snow, we are obviously uneasy about global climate trends. We
feel a deep obligation to work toward sustainability. Aroostook
County’s economic vitality is linked to winter tourism and its
history is rooted in a tradition of skiing! This competition really is
“The Maine Event”— it illustrates our pride in our heritage, taps
into our resourcefulness, and promotes what our spectacular state
has to offer.
The objective of our Green-Initiative is awareness: bring
attention to the cause and effect of our daily decisions. The initiatives
we are pursuing are simple, painless, and are actually saving us
money. Here is a sample of some of these initiatives:
•Recycling and composting at the venue and all banquets.
•No bottled-water at the event. We will have water-bottle
filling stations at several locations and will be selling recycled water
bottles.
•The banquet will include as many locally sourced foods as
possible. This also aligns with our theme “The Maine Event.”
•Recycled office paper will be used and we will limit the
copies of results printed. Making them available online.
•Bus shuttles from parking lots in down-town Presque Isle.
•Simple facility modifications—blinds for large windows to
save on heating. Turn off wax building heat when not in use.
•No idling signs posted and enforced. Leaving a vehicle
idling for more than 10 seconds wastes more gas than it would take
to turn it off and restart.
•Educational information will be available on the our
website as well as at the Willie Neal Environmental Awareness Fund
booth at the event.
•Installing a 10kw wind turbine at the venue. (We had
hoped to have this installed before the event, but ran into funding
issues. However this idea is still very much alive and we will promote
it through the event.)
There is potential for a large impact: 500+ athletes and
coaches, athlete’s families, and a large volunteer force. If we can
bring even simple changes to the daily lives of these people, we’re
looking at a significant impact.
Hopefully next year’s host will carry on the tradition. Any
individual, group or organization interested in joining forces or
sharing suggestions can contact Hilary McNamee at hilarym@
mainewsc.org.
More detailed information on our initiatives and their
impact will be posted on the event website.
22 USSA XC Junior Olympics WINTER 2010
Area skiers (including members of UMPI’s Ski
Team, pictured here) enjoy Aroostook County’s
natural surroundings while training on
roller skis.