The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is delighted to unveil that Oliver Scholfield, a member of the Canadian men’s national hockey team, has been selected as a finalist for the inaugural Climate Action Awards by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). These prestigious awards recognize individuals within the Olympic Movement who are actively taking concrete measures to combat the climate crisis.

Oliver Scholfield’s commendable efforts with the organization ‘Racing to Zero’ have earned him a spot on the shortlist for the Athlete’s Advocacy category, which highlights athletes who are actively engaging communities in the fight against climate change.

Founded in 2019 by Canadian Olympian Oluseyi Smith (in Track & Field and Bobsleigh), ‘Racing to Zero’ welcomed Oliver at its inception. Together, they collaborated with grassroots clubs to assess and enhance the sustainability of their operations and events.

Their efforts have since expanded to encompass a diverse range of sports and organizations, with the goal of maximizing their collective impact. ‘Racing to Zero’ achieves this through educational initiatives, event assessments, strategy development, and carbon reduction programs, empowering sports organizations of all sizes to equip themselves with the knowledge and tools needed to address climate change and minimize their environmental footprint.

Among their notable projects, they have assessed the sustainability of major events like the 2023 Men’s World Curling Championship and the 2022 Ontario U20 Open Championships (Athletics). Their significant contributions to the sport of curling include workshops conducted in collaboration with the World Curling Federation and Curling Canada, as well as a collaborative endeavor to formulate a comprehensive long-term sustainability strategy for Curling Canada.

Oliver shared his motivation for joining the efforts of ‘Racing to Zero’: “I became involved with Racing to Zero after witnessing the significant waste generated at major sporting events and recognizing the environmental impact of hosting such events. Witnessing the actions taken by leaders in this domain has been truly inspiring, and as a collective, we are dedicated to maximizing the potential impact that organizations, athletes, and fans can have on driving positive environmental change through sport.”

FIH President Tayyab Ikram expressed his congratulations to Oliver Scholfield for this prestigious nomination, acknowledging his remarkable commitment to a noble cause. The President wished Oliver success in both the award and his involvement with the commendable organization ‘Racing to Zero.’ He emphasized that sustainability is a critical theme for the sport and the FIH, underscoring the organization’s newly launched Empowerment and Engagement strategy.

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