The ISO 20121 international standard was developed to ensure that events leave a "positive economic, environmental and social legacy" throughout the entire event management cycle, which includes event related activities, products and services.

Created in 2012 and applied to the London Summer Olympics that year, it seeks to establish sustainability criteria for event organisation, providing "guidance and best practice advice for organisers".

The certification is for the next three years and remains valid subject to satisfactory surveillance audits in 11 functional areas, including sustainability, accessibility, people management and food and drink.

Pyeongchang will also continue to be judged on their performance in cleaning and waste, procurement, transport, the Olympic Torch Relay, Paralympic Games integration, legacy and security. 

On behalf of the Organising Committee, POCOG President Lee Hee-beom was awarded the ISO 20121 certification by the Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS) today at POCOG Headquarters.

“From the bidding stage of the Games, the Organising Committee was faced with sustainability-related concerns," said Lee.

"Nonetheless, with this sustainability management system, we are confident to leave a lasting legacy by applying sustainable practices.” 

Pyeongchang 2018 is the first Winter Olympic Games to receive the ISO 20121 certification, and the third Olympic Games in all after London 2012 and Rio 2016 both achieved the certification. 

Rio 2016 President Carlos Nuzman received a plaque confirming their Games' ISO 20121 certification in January. 

Pyeongchang will host the Winter Olympics, the first to be held in South Korea, between February 9 and February 25 next year.