Green Beyond the Pitch: The Role of Sports as an Agent for Sustainability

This week, the kick-off of Euro 2024 marks the beginning of one of the world's biggest sporting events, bringing together millions of fans and athletes in celebration of football. However, beyond the excitement and passion for the sport, this event also presents a unique opportunity to reflect on the crucial role that sports can play in promoting sustainability.

If you’re a fan of a football team like myself (which I won't reveal, but being from Guimarães might give me away), you know what it's like to feel that nervousness when the ball just won't go in, the disappointment when your team suffers a goal on the last minute, or that good feeling when you win a game and feel a little happier that week. This is because sport goes beyond the rational and touches our emotions; it makes us feel and act.

And have you ever thought about how that emotion can be a tool to build a better world? Sport, with its power to unite people from different backgrounds and cultures, has immense potential to inspire positive change and promote more sustainable practices.

Athletes also play an important role as role models, especially for young people. I believe it will be easy for any of us to believe that a child will start saving energy or recycling waste much faster if they hear their favorite footballer telling them to do so, rather than their parents and teachers who repeat it almost daily.

Real Commitments

The importance of sustainability in sport is becoming increasingly evident, and fortunately teams, as economic and social entities, recognize their duty in this field.

Gone are the days when symbolic gestures, such as green bins in stadiums, were considered sufficient measures. Modern sustainability efforts require meticulous planning and rigorous data-driven evaluation.

The organizers of Euro 2024, for example, are implementing a comprehensive sustainability strategy. This includes metrics to track everything from energy consumption and waste generation to fan travel and social inclusion. It's about mapping out all potential sources of environmental impact beforehand and developing real solutions to mitigate them.

And also this year, the 2024 Olympics will be the first to officially report on environmental, social and human rights impacts.

Beyond the Environment

However, the fight by sports organizations for a sustainable world goes beyond the environment. Equality and inclusion are equally crucial aspects.

Fans of a team should be able to travel to any event, cheering for their athletes with passion, but without fear of racial slurs or discrimination. And it is up to the organizers of sporting events to ensure this safety.

Also in women's sport, it is essential to ensure a safe and respectful environment. From equal opportunities to training facilities and environments free from harassment, women deserve to compete without fear of assault or prejudice.

Other sports, besides football, are also starting to play their part in raising awareness of climate issues. Formula E, for example, (a type of car racing done only with electric vehicles), in addition to serving as a testing ground for new greener technologies, shows how these same technologies can continue to have great performance.

Acting as a Community

Even more important than technological innovations, we are seeing that the great innovation that has been happening more and more is at the community level. It is understanding that teams, sponsors, the public and governments are all part of the same community and it is together that we must act.

We should take sustainability issues as a whole and address them to all the different members.

Amateur clubs can be the heart of local initiatives, promoting inclusion and environmental awareness. Fans can choose sustainable travel options and adopt anti-racism and anti-violence stances. Organizers have an obligation to cover all safety and environmental impact issues of their sporting events.

By working together as a community, we can leverage the immense power of sport to create a positive ripple effect, extending far beyond the roar of the crowd.

Remember what Nelson Mandela said: "Sport has the power to change the world."

Sara Celina

Article published in portuguese at https://www.luxwoman.pt/verde-para-alem-da-relva-o-papel-do-desporto-como-um-agente-para-a-sustentabilidade/