How Sports Cause Industrial Pollution
March 10th, 2010 Posted in Green Living & News
Most people love playing baseball in the park with their kids or being a part of their local soccer team, but most people don’t realize the negative effects sports can have on the environment. With the Winter Olympics at there end, questions arise as to what effects have arisen from the completion of this worldwide sporting event.
Skydiving, soccer, Nascar, skiing, and snowboarding are the sports that take the greatest toll on the environment. What can be done to reverse sports negative impact on the environment?
If you think about it participating in sports is inherently wasteful. Yes, sports are really fun and bring people together, but have you ever thought about the wasteful habits sports sometimes encourage. When you or your sports team gain success at a national level you will be traveling to other cities and areas. This produces more air emissions from whatever means of transportation you choose. It is important to think about your actions and how they affect the environment around you.
This year the Winter Olympics did their part to try and reduce their negative impact on the environment. The medals given out to the star athletes were actually made from the recycled metals of old Belgian computers. This was the first time the Olympics incorporated recycled material into the medals. They have been made from fresh ore in the past, which is difficult to breakdown once it is thrown away and ends up in a landfill.
The Olympic planners didn’t stop there, by building 9 new structures to green standards they helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15%. The Olympic village (where all the athletes live during the games) are going to be converted into housing for regular citizens to move into, giving the structures a new use long after this years Olympic games.
Soccer is one of the most popular team sports on the planet, therefore it is important to note how soccer as a sport contributes to growing pollution throughout the planet. In order to watch soccer on a national level cities construct soccer stadiums for fans to enjoy the sport.
Sometimes these stadiums are not built to proper environmental standards, which leads to continued pollution throughout the stadiums continued use. It is important for soccer players and soccer fans to understand how their actions affect the planet overall. By simply carpooling to the soccer game you are reducing the emissions your car is putting into the atmosphere.
High levels of industrial pollution is often caused by unconventional sources. You would think a processing plant would cause more pollutants then participating in Nascar, but surprisingly Nascar causes more pollution.
When a NASCAR vehicle races around in circles at high speeds it expels pollutants into the atmosphere at a rapid rate. So, the next time you watch your favorite sports game think about how much you enjoy it, but don’t forget to think about how your favorite sports affects the environment.
