A Study of Measures for Sustainable Sport

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to diagnose the environmental pollution problems caused by sports and analyze the eco-friendly methods applied to international sporting events held in the past to explore approaches and challenges concerning the sustainable development of sports. To this end, we first analyze the environmental pollution problems caused by sports, as categorized into three types through a review of previous studies, and examine the need for an environmental ethical approach to the conflict between sports and the environment. Then, we choose the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, and the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, which the IOC considers to be the most environmentally friendly competitions, as well as FIFA’s Green Goal program as case studies and analyze the features and limitations of environmentally friendly methods in terms of planning, operation, marketing, and performance dissemination in each case to draw implications for the sustainable development of sport. This study argues that to find a fundamental solution to conflicts between sports and the environment, it is necessary to change the perception from an anthropocentric paradigm to an ecocentric paradigm and establish a new value system for the natural environment.