Why sport needs to think more about sustainability

UBTaktuell: You recently published a special issue on sustainable development in sport. How did this come about?

Prof Dr Manuel Steinbauer: It's obvious that sport should be organised in such a way that it doesn't destroy our livelihoods in the process. Sustainable development in sport is therefore an important topic that will be with us for the long term. Bringing together research findings as a special issue creates awareness and impetus for further research and practical projects. But it is also an opportunity to exchange ideas. When we discuss the topic in our courses and seminars at the University of Bayreuth, it quickly becomes clear that we can only create sustainable sport together. We are constantly reorganising the way to achieve this in our daily discussions, but also by exchanging ideas in the special issue.

What new insights does the special issue provide into sustainable development in sport?

Prof Dr Susanne Tittlbach: The special issue aims to provide new and interlinked insights into a multi-layered, socially relevant topic. The idea behind the special issue was to address various aspects and issues of sustainable development in the context of sport and physical activity from different perspectives, highlighting the challenges and prospects for the future.

When analysing sport and physical activity against the background of a holistic understanding of sustainable development, ecological, social and economic aspects must be taken into account. Relationships between sport and physical activity, society and the environment are bidirectional and involve complex interactions. Sport and physical activity can therefore be seen as both part of the problem and part of the solution to sustainable development issues.

Against the backdrop of the UN Charter 2030 with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the special issue addresses the various opportunities and challenges: sport and physical activity are examined in the context of climate change (SDG 13), planetary health (SDG 3) and education (SDG 4) as an important means of achieving further SDGs. The role of organised sport and informal sporting activities as a driver for education and development processes in the area of sustainability (e.g. environmental awareness, SDGs 13, 14 and 15, or sustainable consumption of food, SDGs 2 and 12) is also part of the special issue, as is the rapidly growing research field of active mobility (SDG 3, 11 and 13).

Sport and exercise are associated with challenges and opportunities in terms of sustainability. What opportunities for greater sustainability do sport and exercise offer?

Tittlbach: Sport and exercise, especially organised sport with its training and competition structures, shape social structures and contribute to the ecological and social crises we are facing today: Climate change, loss of biodiversity, exploitation, migration - to name but a few. However, sport and exercise can also make an important contribution to achieving global sustainability goals and thus to planetary health, which refers to the health of the population and the planet. To name a few examples: Sport and exercise can contribute to maintaining and restoring health, e.g. reducing overall mortality, but also reducing road traffic accidents and emissions through active mobility, as well as to building health literacy through high-quality physical education as well as through meaningful physical activity infrastructure in cities and communities, which contribute to promoting physical activity and well-being through exercise spaces in nature as well as walking and cycling networks. In recent years, research into active mobility, i.e. actively travelling necessary distances (e.g. to work and school), has become an important area of sustainability research. At BaySpo, we have also established a research focus in this area, which shows that both health and environmental effects can be achieved and that important determinants need to be considered when designing walking and cycling infrastructure so that as many people as possible can actively complete their everyday journeys.

Why do you see the need to make society aware of the need to think sustainably in sport too?

Steinbauer: Sport seems young and modern, but it is not leading the way in terms of the necessary development towards a sustainable society. Many other areas are already much further ahead in terms of considering the impact on our environment and improving outdated structures, for example. At the same time, there are many people, especially athletes, who want to change this and move forward. We therefore no longer necessarily have to draw attention to the need for change, but rather discuss and implement the "how" together.

Many problems are institutional. But what can individuals do to take a sustainable path in sport?

Steinbauer: Change is teamwork. We don't go down this path alone, but together. We will have the greatest impact if we discuss the institutional problems and outdated thought patterns that have been addressed and work together step by step to create a sport that is fit for the future in a sustainable society.

The (sports) world is evolving rapidly. Are you already planning the next special issue?

Steinbauer and Tittlbach: The need to make sport more sustainable will be with us forever. We are therefore convinced that in the medium term there will be no need for special issues in sports science either, but that they will become an integral part of all research and development processes. Under the direction of Prof Dr Peter Kuhn, also from BaySpo at the University of Bayreuth, and Dr Julia Lohmann from the University of Augsburg, who was in charge of the current special issue with us, the next book on the topic is already in the works!