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Abstract
Concern for protection of the natural environment is a growing issue within sport and mega-events. The Olympic Movement adopted green practices starting in the mid 1980s in order to reduce the environmental impact of the event. Little is known about the institutional history of the environmental movement within the Movement and which stakeholders are involved in supporting these environmental initiatives. This thesis uses content analysis in an attempt to understand the evolution of environmental practices within the Movement, identify the major stakeholders involved in organizing environmental practices, and define the roles of these major stakeholders. Findings suggest the Olympic Movement has utilized environmental, sustainability, and zero impact themes in their policies and practices. Major environmental stakeholders are organizers, regulators, non-governmental organizations, and sponsors. These environmental themes and stakeholder identities contribute to the sport management literature and will help future Olympic Games organizers approach understand environmental challenges they might face.