Sport and climate change—how will climate change affect sport?

Abstract

Climate change will have complex consequences for the environment, society, economy and people’s health. The issue of climate change has received comparatively little attention to date in the fields of sports science. Thus, sport-related health risks caused by climate change are discussed and summarized in a conceptual model presented here for the first time. Climate change is associated with the following increases of health-related risks for athletes in particular: Direct consequences caused by extreme temperature and other extreme weather events (e.g. increasing risks due to heatwaves, thunderstorms, floods, lightning, ultraviolet radiation) and indirect consequences as a result of climate-induced changes to our ecosystem (e.g. due to increased air pollution by ozone, higher exposures to allergens, increasing risks of infection by viruses and bacteria and the associated vectors and reservoir organisms). Each aspect is supplemented with advice on the prevention of health hazards. Not only individual athletes but also sports organizations and local clubs will have to respond to the changes in our climate, so that they can appropriately protect both athletes and spectators and ensure a plannable continuation of the sport in the future.

Football and climate change: what do we know, and what is needed for an evidence-informed response?

“…Ross and Orr (2022) predict the key climate threats on football World Cups up to 2032 will be heat conditions unsuitable for competition, and poor air quality. Schneider and Mücke (2021) summarize that climate change will increase risks to athletes from heat stress; exposure to UV, allergens and air pollutants; and faster disease vectors. Nybo et al (2021), specific to football, argue that footballers' technical capabilities are preserved and may even improve under high heat conditions, but that different players may be affected differently by heat.…”

MAPPING CIRCULAR ECONOMY PROJECTS: A CASE STUDY OF A MAJOR COMPANY IN THE SPORTS & OUTDOOR INDUSTRY

“…Natural disasters and severe weather affect competitive and recreational athletes' ability to participate in many sports (Viola, 2021). Climate change presents direct and indirect sport-specific risks, such as heat stress, respiratory stress caused by wildfires, and skin cancer (Schneider and Mücke, 2021). Also, winter sports deal with their endangered playground once there is less snow and ice (Taylor, 2019).…”

Climate-Tourism Information Scheme (CTIS) for sport events from past: analysis of cases of 1980 Summer Olympics (Moscow) and 2018 FIFA World Cup

“…Climate change is an issue that has complex consequences for many facets of human life, including people's health (Townsend et al, 2003;Schneider & Mücke, 2021). It is especially relevant to sport, as it is directly impacted by natural environment and exhibits climate vulnerability at different levels: from the process of organizing the event itself to the condition of individual athletes (Orr & Inoue, 2019).…”

“…Sport-specific health risks caused by the climate change may be direct and indirect (Schneider & Mücke, 2021). In case of direct health risks, the main cause of damage is the prolonged exposure to very high temperatures.…”