Sustaining Sport

Madeleine Orr is an Assistant Professor of Sport Ecology at the University of Toronto. She is also a co-founder of the Sport Ecology group, and in early May she will be releasing a brand-new book called “Warming Up, How Climate Change is Changing Sport” which, as you may guess, focuses on how sport is adapting to and wrestling with climate change.

From seasonal sports' responses to climate shifts to using community sports facilities during natural disasters, this episode promises an eye-opening exploration of the environmental challenges and the hope that can spring from adversity. Maddy also shares with us how she navigates the double intersection of Sport with Sustainability and Academia with Industry. And we question the very definition of 'sustainability' in sports. Has this once-critical concept been diluted, and should we redefine the term to better align with the planet's needs while preserving the magic of sports in the future?

I hope you find it interesting!

You can (pre)order a copy of the book here: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/warming-up-9781399404525/ 

 And maybe meet Maddy during her book tour. Dates, times and locations are here: https://twitter.com/maddyjorr/status/1777823539405500589 

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Today we are speaking with Chen Chen. He is an Assistant Professor at the University of Connecticut and writes prolifically about how sport intersects with many troubling trends across the globe including environmental decline and increasing inequality of wealth and power.

This episode begins with Chen’s unique story that led him to these topics. Then we use his recent work on how the Dakar rally’s time in South America was a prime example of environmental injustice and even ecological imperialism, as local communities and areas dense with biodiversity were given no say in how and where this event took place. We explore how this event embodies larger issues of resource exploitation, environmental degradation, and cultural erasure.

We also discuss some alternative ways of engaging in community sports such as The World Indigenous Games and Field of Dreamers – Cooperative Softball Association.

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Ugandan sports currently grapples with a complex network of interconnected challenges, including severe financial constraints, persistent mismanagement issues, a significant talent drain, and the undeniable impacts of climate change. The question is:  how can their sports improve and develop talent without further contributing to the climate crisis?

Diving into this question with us is Sharon Muzaki, a budding environmental journalist and sports fan, in Kampala. Of course, such a discussion begs the subsequent question: is it even fair to expect a nation, that has contributed so little to the climate crisis, to include such considerations into the sporting growth model?

There is no simple solution, but, speaking from both lived experiences and observations, Sharon gives us her preservative which informs a much better understanding of the problem - a problem is crying out for further consideration from the relevant stakeholders. 

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Advertising is supposed to be a way for businesses and entrepreneurs to show you how good their products are. But what if many of the products in adverts are actually bad? They could be bad for you or potentially bad for this planet and its delicately balanced biosphere.

Today’s topic is bad advertising. We are talking to researcher Freddie Daley who works as a coordinator for a tremendous organisation called Badvertising. As sport holds a powerful place in the hearts and minds of fans and athletes around the world, it is a potent tool for advertisers. According to Statista, in 2022 the global sports sponsorship market was worth an estimated 66 billion U.S. dollars and is expected to grow to 107 billion U.S. dollars by 2030. It is one of sport’s biggest revenue streams, dwarfing that of merchandise and tickets.

Freddie and his colleagues know this and therefore must dedicate a lot of time calling out and campaigning against adverts that contain false information or normalise businesses whose operations are harmful to people and the environment.

Freddie joins us today to discuss this sport, sustainability, and advertising intersection. It’s a complex and arduous topic at times but his pragmatism and belief in the possibility of a better system makes it very much worth a listen!

You can also find more research and work on this at the Rapid Transition Alliance.

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The convergence of sport, decoloniality, and the environment presents a labyrinth of intricate ideas, and as we delve into their interconnectedness, the complexity deepens.

Joining us on this informative journey is Samuel Clevenger, an Assistant Professor at Towson University in the USA, who has been trying to unpack some of this intersection. We start with the radical concept of decoloniality—an evolution beyond mere decolonisation. Through philosophical references and anecdotes, we raise instances where sport has been wielded to perpetuate a Western-centric worldview, shaping notions of identity, imagery, and competition. Then, in contrast, we examine examples where Western sports were recast more in the image of the indigenous people who were pressured to play them.

As we pivot to the environmental repercussions, a canvas of broader societal critiques unfurls. The discourse expands to encompass profound themes like climate justice, athlete and fan burnout, and the nuances of degrowth or post-growth.

Whether you're a sports enthusiast, an environmental advocate, or simply curious about the multifaceted connections between these realms, there are undoubtedly ideas in this episode of interest to you.

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The relationship between money and sport is complex…

This show has often discussed the issues that arise when the biggest carbon emitters buy or sponsor a sports club, often with the objective of improving their legitimacy or reputation. But this episode goes one step deeper, by looking at the more nuanced capital in-flows that have a few a degrees of separation.

For example, the organisations that invest in or fund others to extract fossil fuels, rather than doing it themselves. Additionally, there are businesses that continuously try to tempt the consumer into making key purchases that will cause significant harm either to the consumer or somewhere else along the supply chain. And because of that separation, it’s tricky for sports fans to know that the companies whose names adorn the fronts of their teams' jerseys are profiting from something they might not agree with.

But help is on the way. Michael Hardy has long sought to get his local team, Liverpool FC, to drop Standard Chartered as a sponsor. Standard chartered fund in a range of projects across the world that do not uphold the human rights of their workers and are responsible for a massive about of emissions. To try to make a difference, Michael and Platform, the organisation he works for, are launching the Game Changer Sponsorship Pledge: an exciting new initiative that tries to bring everyone who cares about sport but does not want to benefit from harm-causing activities. They want to put pressure on sports commercial directors to make better choices that better reflect the values of the fans, even if that means less lucrative deals.

You can learn more about the Game Changer Sponsorship Pledge at: badverts.org/gamechanger

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or contact us at: [email protected]

“Sport is not industry: bringing sport back to sport management.”

That is the title of a wonderful paper by Hallgeir Gammelsæter, of Molde University College in Norway. The paper argues that sport management, as a discipline, has become overly focused on the management or business aspect, pushing the sports industry into competing as any other form of entertainment.

This raises questions about who sport is supposed to serve, as both athletes and fans have arguably become commodities for shareholder gain and authentic intangible community bonds are lost in the name of international growth. Crucially this trend seems to be self-reinforcing, as more investors, middlemen, and marketeers come in trying to carve out some revenue for themselves.

Hallgeir joins us to discuss all of this and builds on it with insights from his other lines of work, including the incompatibility between elite sport and environmental sustainability - and how the professionalisation of sport is trickling down all the way to children's sport, meaning things at youth level are no longer just fun and games, when perhaps they still should be.

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Please feel free to reach out to the show on
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or contact us at: [email protected]

Football fan culture is a highly coveted commodity to many businesses who look to use the spectacle of the game and the love for teams to promote the consumption of their products. But what if this culture was leveraged for more positive outcomes?

Jenny Amann, a PhD student at the University of Brighton, recently co-authored a paper with an international expert on fan culture, Mark Doidge. In it, they present their research on how we might mobilise the collective behaviour of sports fans to help tackle climate change.

Jenny joins us today to summarise this absorbing research and establishes its goal, which is to instigate structural change and not merely small changes in behaviour. Building on this, she highlights the need for more authentic forms of climate communication, custom designed for groups that are not already engaged on the issues. We end with a discussion on the many contradictions embedded within the more ‘corporate’ understanding of sustainability.

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Please feel free to reach out to the show on
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or contact us at: [email protected]

How does winning an Olympic gold medal in canoeing inform a career in environmental activism?

Etienne Stott, and his partner Tim Baillie, won the Men's slalom canoeing C-2 Event at the London 2012 Olympics, making history for Great Britain. Since retiring from competitive sport, Etienne has become increasingly involved with environmental activism, working with organizations such as Extinction Rebellion to raise awareness and push for action.

In this episode, we take a deep dive into Etienne's journey from athlete to activist. We start with his sporting career and the pivotal moment that led to his Olympic success. Then, we shift our focus to the climate crisis and how Etienne understands the complex and systemic issues at play.

As a canoeist, Etienne has a unique perspective on the power of nature and its connection to sport. We delve into how this inherent connection impacts his worldview and informs his approach to the environment. Finally, we explore how athletes can use their platform within society to call for action and make a positive impact.

You can also see the recording of our interview at https://youtu.be/kV54aI716jk

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or contact us at: [email protected]

The Republic of Haiti is arguably the unluckiest country in recent history. It sits on a fault line and is regularly barraged by hurricanes. Additionally, it still struggles for social and economic stability after countless colonial injustices and outside interventions followed by dictators, gang violence and corruption. Sport, mainly football/soccer, plays a huge role in the nation’s culture which means it may be a source of relief. But how to leverage this potential in a country seemingly without hope? 

James Louis-Charles has a plan! As a history teacher, he is well aware of the complex history of his home. And after many years working in Sport for Development, James believes that with the right steps, Haiti can become a great football-playing nation. This would mean two things: (1) young Haitians would have more pathways out of poverty, and (2) it could give the country some hope and unity in a way few things have before.

Achieving this is exceptionally complex and requires a collaboration of local insights, good faith actors and external benefactors. But it’s worth fighting for! We begin this episode with James’ views on the history of Haiti followed by his passion for football and close with his compelling call for action!

You can contact James on Twitter: @James_LouCha

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Please feel free to reach out to the show on
Web: sustainingsport.com
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Donate to our patreon.com/sustainingsport
or contact us at: [email protected]