AEF Partners with Olympic Organizers on World Environmental Day Action UNEP Participated in Olympic Coastal Cleanup.
The ATHENS 2004 Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (ATHOC) and the Athens Environmental Foundation (AEF) partnered in a coastal underwater clean-up operation on the occasion of World Environment Day, 5 June 2004.
Events included beach and underwater clean-up activities at the Athens Coast, with participation by Olympic Environmental Ambassador and AEF Board member Jean-Michel Cousteau, who visited Athens three times before the 2004 Olympic Games in support of environmental programs related to them.
Cousteau led a team of divers to identify and clean up debris in the Olympic perimeter of the Piraeus Kastella area.
Events included a beach clean-up effort along the Athens Coast, beach games, a demonstration by the Hellenic Synchronized Swimming National Olympic Team and the promotion of several environmental issues.
UNEP set the 2004 World Environment Day Global theme as “Wanted! Seas and Oceans – Dead or Alive?” to raise awareness about issues related to the marine environment and marine pollution. UNEP has supported our activities and UNEP Executive Director Klaus Toepfer broadcasted a message of support via satellite at our evening event on June 5th.
Pictures of beach cleanup in Athens
