Lessons from the Sidelines

Recently I attended a sports sustainability summit where I witnessed firsthand the amazing efforts that so many people within the sports industry are putting into making sports a beacon for the push towards a sustainable world. And true enough, sports have the potential to really bring people together towards a common goal. Nowadays, that common goal truly needs to be reducing our impact on the earth and on climate through a concerted effort. It was truly an inspiring event, and one where I, as someone who attended as an independent participant, really saw a noble purpose; one that I want to contribute to with my own background and expertise.

As a first time participant to this event, I made the observation that healthcare, and sports health in particular, still plays a very small and almost negligible role in the world of sports sustainability, even though I would argue that it should play a prominent role in it. We live in a world measured by data and judged by technical skills, and a huge amount of focus and effort is placed on things like operations, technology, logistics, venue management, and sponsorship. Meanwhile, very little is placed on those who actually make these sports relevant and powerful, the people and communities who are most likely to face the biggest impacts of climate change through their health and well-being.

I believe that the disconnect that so many feel with regards to climate change has a lot to do with the fact that what they see and hear in the media are so far and away from what they experience on a day to day level that they either get intimidated or simply tune it out instead of getting involved. After all, what is a rail worker, plumber or shopkeeper supposed to do when all they are exposed to and all they know about sustainability are either expensive state-of-the-art technological innovations that they will never afford or experience, or that they should be giving up the simple luxuries they have in life, like enjoying nice steak or keeping the engine on as they wait for their child to come out of school on a hot summer day? This is an exaggeration of course, but the point is that people are not engaged because they see that the struggle is not about them, but rather some economic goal that has nothing to do with or does not require their participation. Perhaps, part of the solution to leverage the power of sports in getting people more involved is to make it more about them--how climate change will affect their health and wellbeing, as well as that of their favorite athletes, teams, and clubs; how they have a relevant and profound impact on how they feel, and on the future of who they support by the decisions they make about their environment; and how they can use sports as a way to reconnect with their environment through individual changes, as well as changes to community and grassroots programs, training regimens, or gameday habits.

As a sports doctor who has stood on the sidelines of big games, there is a palpable power to sports. I have felt it. But I also know that there is a barrier between what happens on the pitch and those watching the game, both literally and figuratively. Supporters are literally tackled to the ground when they “invade” the pitch to grab a picture with their favorite players. I do not think we can afford to do that when it comes to sustainability. We need everyone to participate in this common struggle, and we can’t do it unless we engage on a personal level, through the health and wellbeing of our supporters and our communities.