A Methodology to Evaluate GHG Emissions for Large Sports Events

Abstract

Determining whether a large sports event is sustainable or not is one of the main objectives of the sports industry in the coming years. Indeed, there are several sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within a sports event that are not directly controlled by the sports companies but are linked to the event itself. The literature does not offer a standardized methodology for calculating the CO2 emissions of sports events, and consequently, there are different approaches. The objective of this article is to provide an updated state-of-the-art on the topic and to propose an innovative methodology for the calculation of Greenhouse Gas emission of a large sport event. The methodology entails the analysis of purchased goods and services, fuel and energy consumption, waste generation, business travel, and the impact of accommodations. Within the analysis, tools are provided to calculate carbon emissions for each category based on easily understandable data and utilizing reference conversion factors. The research presented in this paper may be useful for professionals in the sector in identifying a comprehensive methodology to quantify greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for a large sports event.