Ronaldo's jersey is made from recycled plastic bottles. One of THE 2010 FIFA World Cup's major sponsors is a renewable energy company. The Commonwealth Games scheduled for October in New Delhi will see you pee at waterless urinals. And if you make it to the London Olympics, you'll be cycling to the venue. It's not a dream. The goal just turned green, findsu00a0Sowmya Rajaramu00a0

THE sight of French football genius Zinedine Zidane being sent off field during the 2006 FIFA World Cup is probably one of the most enduring images of the tournament.

On Friday, though, when football fans woke up to a FIFA World Cup sans 'Zizou' for the first time in 12 years, the goals and penalties hogged as much limelight as the other big news -- football is going green.

And it's not the only game. Some of the world's biggest sporting tournaments are taking turns to outdo each other in the 'who's greener' war. Back in 2008, The Beijing Olympics were touted as the 'most environmentally friendly games ever,' with owners and builders of 20 out of 23 Beijing venues agreeing not to use CFC refrigerants in their air-conditioning systems.

Fast forward to 2012, and plans are already afoot to pass on that mantle to London as it prepares to host the Olympics in two years.

FIFA 2010, South Africa

Players of the Brazilian team warm up during training in Johannesburg in
May. While Brazil bids to take home a record sixth football World Cup trophy,
all eyes are on Green Goal 2010, the sustainability programme that the 2010
FIFA World Cup has embarked on. A total of 2,00,000 trees have been planted
in Johannesburg as part of a carbon-offsetting programme. Pic/AFP photo

Sport rhymes with green
And with good reason. According to a February 2009 study conducted at the request of the South African government, the 2010 FIFA World Cup will leave a carbon footprint that's expected to be more than eight times greater than the one left by the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Besides, there is the estimated environmental cost of local transportation, construction of stadiums, and energy use associated with matches and accommodation for fans -- nearly 900,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Closer home, the much-mired-in-controversy Commonwealth Games 2010 (CWG) has also decided to don green gloves. After tabulating that the October 3-14 edition of the CWG scheduled in New Delhi will generate a carbon footprint of between 1,30,000 to 1,50,000 tonnes CO2 emissions, a bundle of measures have been adopted to make these the greenest games in India.

Commonwealth Games 2010, New Delhi

Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh and Indian Olympics Association
President Suresh Kalmadi look on as Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit plants
a sapling as part of the Environment Program initiative of the Green Games 2010

Down to grassroots
Lalit Bhanot, secretary general, organising committee, CWG 2010, says, "Measures have been taken to ensure extensive afforestation to offset the environmental impact of the games. We will enhance bio-diversity by placing about five million potted plants across the city (Delhi) while the Games are on."

The installation of dual flushing systems, waterless urinals, and the use of efficient lighting to help reduce energy consumption by at least 20 per cent are on the anvil. Bhanot says these are but a few of the steps from various pledges made under the Green Games initiative that could make for a thick book.

And if the CWG can do it, cricket can't be far behind. IPL 3 wasn't just about a glitzy opening ceremony with actress Deepika Padukone and Chennai trouncing favourites Mumbai Indians to romp home with the trophy.

Through a partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), it also made a commitment to create awareness about environment issues among spectators, calculate the carbon footprint of the tournament in partnership with agency No2Co2, and figure ways to neutralise the carbon cost generated during the finals.

The best part? "It's an ongoing commitment," the IPL spokesperson says. Which means the IPL's eco-friendly measures didn't end with MS Dhoni lifting the trophy. In the next season, expect to see more 'go green' messages during matches and on boundary signage.

Cycle or walk at Olympics
With two years to go before the 2012 Olympics kick-off in London, officials are working furiously to make the Games "...a catalyst for change for the regeneration of and improvement of quality of life in East London, and to encourage more sustainable living across the whole of the UK."

Spectators will be encouraged to travel by public transport, or to walk or cycle to venues. The organisers are exploring ways to include the use of low-carbon concrete in construction of transport infrastructure. In fact, The Olympic Delivery Authority has already won the Green Award for the 2012 London Olympics transport plans, for achieving the British Standard in sustainable event management standards.

2012 Olympics, London

Aerial view of the centre of the Olympic stadium and the completed lighting
structure in preparation for the 2012 London Olympics. To make the Olympics
environment-friendly, the Olympic Delivery Authority plans to use venues that
already exist in the UK wherever possible, and build temporary structures for
everything else

Waterways and wildlife that run around and through the Olympic Park in
London are being protected from the effects of construction. Newts, toads
and sand martins have been relocated to new habitats and will be brought
back only after construction ends

The handbook

How to be an eco-friendly sportsperson

>>Try renting or borrowing rather than buying new equipment. See if friends have hand-me-downs that
are in good shape.
>>Share equipment -- whether bats, balls, gloves or helmets, with pals.
>>Donate your equipment when you decide you don't need it or have outgrown it.
u00a0>>Wherever possible, minimise the use of plastic and water. During tournaments, encourage people to eat and drink out of paper cutlery rather than plastic.

Eco-conscious sports stars

Sachin bats for green too
The Master Blaster takes his role as UNEP Goodwill ambassador seriously. Recently, he installed a rain water harvesting system at his Bandra bungalow. The move will help conserve 10 lakh litres of rainwater during the monsoons.

Ganguly at Green IPL
Saurav Ganguly, captain of Kolkata Knight Riders, signed a giant globe made out of recycled material.

Billie Jean King is Queen of Green
The former Grand Slam tennis champion said, "Public transportation is a great way to reduce global warming.
Take a subway, train or bus to get to your next match."

COMING UP: India's 'most eco-friendly stadium'

The 16,000 square metre Thyagaraj Stadium in New Delhi has been constructed using fly-ash bricks and features a rainwater harvesting system and piped natural gas (PNG)-run turbines to generate 3.5 megawatt power to run it during the Commonwealth Games. The roof (107 X 185m) will enable the generation of 1MW of solar energy. On completion of the Games, the stadium will be used to host badminton, table tennis and basketball tournaments. They have also applied for a LEED (leadership in energy and environmental design) certification. Pic/AFP photo