Sports That Take the Greatest Toll On Our Environment

Of all the eco-themed topics to write about, you're probably wondering how the simple act of engaging in sports can cause any type of negative environmental impact. It's not like getting our exercise on should involve anything more than a bunch of willing human bodies, uniforms (which are sometimes not even a necessity) and a ball to kick, toss or slam around. Well, that's how it was back in the olden days...but in our modern society, things have gotten a lot more complicated. Take a look at how much sports-related gear kids drag to their after-school practices these days and you'll begin to realize that that merely scratches the surface of what is involved when participating in professional-level sports. Think about the constant flights to various national and international regions in order to play against competitors. What about the hotel rooms, restaurant meals, car rides, and other resources that team members choose to take advantage while they're away from home? It's unlikely that sports figures are dialed into a conservational mentality when they're in a foreign city and attempting to prep themselves for a new game.

National practices are one thing, but once a sports figure or team has achieved a number of successes, it's highly likely that they will then be invited to participate on an international level (depending on the sport, of course). The Olympics is a good example of what happens when vast numbers of people congregate to one city. While Vancouver is taking extraordinary measures to green its act, the vast amount of construction necessary to accommodate thousands upon thousands of athletes, trainers and spectators during a limited time period ends up utilizing a massive amount of natural and financial resources while also potentially compromising the stomping grounds of wildlife. Then, there's the sheer volume of power used and waste that is left behind when so many people descend at once - this has been seen time and time again with outdoor concerts, festivals and even the recent theoretically green Copenhagen climate summit. Of course, this is the nature of the beast when large performances come into play. Between transportation, food, clothing, venues, accommodations and sports-related equipment, a cloud of carbon ends up rising from the dust because the majority of the factors involved are traditional rather than sustainable alternatives.

Quite recently, Global Post detailed a list of what they perceive to be the top 5 sports that cause the greatest detriment to the environment (which can be seen below in its entirety). I'm curious what everyone thinks about their run down. Are you surprised? Not entirely convinced? Can you think of any sports that were neglected but you think truly deserve a spot in the top 5? If so, why do you believe that they're more deserving of the environmental offender honor? What about dirt bike riding (which carves tracks into the landscape, potentially endangering vulnerable areas) or golf courses (which use heavily watered and chemically sprayed turf)? Onto the master list....

Skydiving

Sky diving as a sport, or even as a one-time activity for thrill seekers, takes a toll on the environment because of the fuel used to get the plane up in the air for every jump. During a skydiving competition, the small planes used have to refuel on more than one occasion. Using planes for transportation or pilot training is one thing, but skydiving is avoidable.

NASCAR/ Car Racing

Like skydiving, NASCAR releases emissions into the atmosphere unnecessarily as cars go around the track time and time again at dangerously high speeds. It's pretty self-explanatory why this is one bad sport for the environment!

Skiing and Snowboarding

Any environmental advocates who are reading that have been involved with the Olympic protests are sure to be nodding their heads in agreement with this one. We've been watching the world's most elite athletes compete in skiing and snowboarding events over the past week, and have been impressed by the likes of Snowboarder Shaun White or downhill skier Lindsey Vonn. But, these sports have their own detrimental environmental effects, not all of them direct. Essentially it's just the snow-making machines that can have a direct result. However, since ski hills and resorts aren't always available in every community for winter sport enthusiasts, it's the travel to these destinations that results in emissions output.

Hunting for Sport

The fact that hunting can be environmentally detrimental cannot be contested. Sure, unless you're a vegetarian; you've got to eat. But many people who hunt aren't doing so for survival, they're hunting for sport. Loss of species can overturn the whole structure of the animal kingdom and affect natural resources as well.

Soccer

Soccer is one of the most widely played sports globally, and it requires construction of stands and stadiums to house the fans. Soccer stadiums are built in a process that degrades existing environmental habitats, and emissions are generated from the manufacturing process. Of course, transportation also comes into play as professional sports teams travel.