In 2013, the International Canoe Federation (ICF) was approached by Paddle for the Planet (P4P), a registered NGO that unites paddlers and watermen for conservation, about the possibility of forming a partnership. P4P’s signature event is the annual Global Paddling Relay: simultaneous paddling events that start sequentially, on the same day and at the same time, in different time zones all over the world, thereby creating a global relay. Paddlers of any type of paddling craft (rowing boats, dragon boats, canoes, kayaks and others) are united through the event.
In May 2017, five International Federations (IFs) and the IOC created a working group to tackle the ongoing issue of pollution in natural water bodies, in an effort to increase the safety of athletes and promote legacy projects in host cities for water sports, recreation and the environment.
Marine litter is a global issue that carries multifaceted consequences, with poor waste management being the main reason for litter finding its way to our coasts and oceans. It is imperative to raise global awareness of this problem and take measures to address shortcomings in waste management. The Federated States of Micronesia National Olympic Committee (FSMNOC) implemented the Love Your Coast (LYC) project in December 2017 to address this issue through coastal clean-ups and practical educational training on marine litter and coastal recovery.
On 5 June 2018, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) joined United Nations Environment Clean Seas initiative (#CleanSeas) to beat plastic waste and called on other organisation and individuals from across the Olympic Movement to come on board. One National Olympic Committee (NOC) and ten International Federations (IFs) have so far joined the initiative, helping to tackle the global issue of marine litter with concrete actions.
On 25 June 2019, the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOC SL) launched Give the Reef Another Chance at Polhena Beach in Matara under the auspices of Olympic Solidarity. This threeyear project aims to raise awareness about the importance of coral reef conservation along the Sri Lankan coast and implement actions to help restore the diminishing reef of Polhena
