environmental management and monitoring for ... - Eventkultur.lab

ii. Minimising the contribution of sports events to water pollution by, for
example, controlling or eliminating the release of polluted water from
sports facilities, limiting soil erosion into rivers and lakes, and
preventing pesticides and fertilizers from leaching into ground and
surface water.
Land and Water Use
Sports events and the facilities designed to host them can be substantial
consumers of land and water. If new sports facilities are built on land that
is valuable as wildlife habitat, urban green space, protected wilderness or
for agriculture, it can have a negative environmental impact. Similarly,
events and facilities, which take place on water, can contribute to erosion,
destruction of habitat and disturbance of nesting/breeding grounds. Many
sports also consume large quantities of water (i.e. golf courses, pools, ice
surfaces, snowmaking for skiing), contributing to water scarcity.
However, through good planning and appropriate choices, sports
events/facilities can contribute to the rehabilitation of otherwise polluted
or abandoned land and polluted bodies of water. Urban industrial sites and
closed landfills have actually been turned into the sites of sports fields and
even major events.
Waste Management
A typical byproduct of major events is a major amount of waste. Waste can
be generated by participants and spectators through event-related activities
such as the consumption of food and a wide range of supplies and
materials used in hosting an event. In addition, on a larger scale, waste is
produced in the construction of permanent sports facilities and the creation
and disposal of temporary installations. Through good waste management
practices like reduction, reuse, recycling and composting, a major event can
easily cut in half its creation of waste and the associated costs.
Energy Management
Almost all events and facilities consume energy, some in significant
amounts. Operating lighting and sound systems, heating and cooling
buildings, creating ice, filtering and pumping pool water and making
artificial snow are among the most energy-intensive activities. In all of
these cases there are opportunities to reduce energy consumption and its
costs through conservation and energy management strategies. While
reducing demand for energy, sports events and facilities can also reduce
their emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases responsible
for global climate change.
Managing and Monitoring Environmental Performance of Sports Events and Facilities
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