1. Introduction Sustainability, as an issue, has been the subject of widespread debate for ages now. While some people cannot associate themselves with the concept, others are too agnostic about the implementation of practices which can result in a win-win scenario for all. Another subset even wonders if the practices itself are sustainable or not. Such different views helps little to achieve the objective, when it is itself difficult to begin with. A large portion of the literature on sustainability focuses on the issues and the impacts in traditional sectors like energy, tourism etc. The purpose of this article is to highlight the sustainability issues in the sports industry, how the industry is affecting the environment, the roles played …show more content…
But, skiing has major environmental impacts that we cannot even comprehend. The ski terrain gets transformed into environmentally sensitive high-alpine regions. Also, as the growing seasons are short, it doesn’t give them enough time to grow and recover. The constant trails left during skiing results in soil erosion, as it removes the top layer of the soil – the shrubs and the small trees which help in anchoring the soil. Ski slopes also dangerously impacts the landscape, as sometimes they are created for the benefit and convenience of the players, and they start encroaching upon the private lands, which leads to even more commercialization and subsequent exploitation. As this is played in the natural habitat, it involves sever impact to the endangered species. At times, it is even incomprehensible. Another great impact is of the waste water and the snow formation. The resulting environment left by skiing contains harmful levels of pesticides and toxins. This gets mixed in the water and the snow, and travels to surrounding areas contaminating …show more content…
is a section of sports which is characterized by extreme risk-taking, where any mistake or failure might result in serious injuries or death. It is necessary to study this, as the individual undertakes this sport of his own volition, and every individual has different reasons to do so. Further, the impact caused by a single individual can be more potent in this setting. Thus, this produces challenges and opportunities for sustainable development. Researchers have interacted with a lot of extreme sports enthusiasts and have come to a conclusion that they can play a major part. The main reason identified here is that people generally tend to indulge in these kinds of activities as they want to challenge nature. A Mount Everest climb, or a bungee-jump from the highest point is the individual’s way of standing up to nature. Also, the exposure that these types of sports get is enormous and some events are characterized by huge media
One of the most visible and mutual environmental impacts of ski areas on the environment is deforestation and grading of slopes. In order to service a multitude of winter sport enthusiast, mountain slopes must be cleared of dense forest in order to make way for ski runs and lifts. With the ski industry in the US showing steady numbers (Satistica) resorts have to come up with new attractions to keep past patrons and attract new customers. One of the ways that they do this is by opening up new terrain, which increases the amount of deforestation damaging the local vegetation. Ski resorts essentially have two options in creating new terrain. First clearing runs by removing trees and other woody vegetation, leaving the topsoil and seed bank intact or by grading slopes by using bulldozers to remove any abnormalities. The second method is preferred as it is faster and more efficient and allows for the slope to be opened earlier with less snow pact.(USA) The impacts of grading slopes by bulldozing destroy the vegetation, reduce the topsoil and greatly contribute to erosion. The removal of woody vegetation can also lead to a drastic change in the local vegetation in order to keep the trails clear it requires constant trimming of the new growth of unwanted vegetation that can help anchor topsoil in place and provide better growing conditions for other plants. The destructive method of bulldozing runs not only leads to environmental degradation but also can be counter productive. According to a UC Davis study, while clearing slopes of vegetation and irregularities by bulldozer might result in opening earlier than other resorts the increase in maintenance, will likely offset any monetary gains (USA).
Of course, you can’t forget the abiotic factors! Basically, just telling a bit more about the landscape. First, we have the physical features. The landscape of the slope impacts plant growth, hurts natural ecosystems by erosion, and unfortunately destroys the homes of animals. Although, animals and structures adapt to the slopes. T...
With all the advantages that a snow machine could bring to Northern Arizona, there are some people who do not want to see the Arizona SnowBowl join the ninety-one percent of ski areas who make their own snow on National Forest land (Murray, p.3). These people have raised great controversy in Northern Arizona because they would like to see the mountain stay as pristine as possible. The only problem with their point of view is that there are more advantages than disadvantages to installing snow machines.
affects the ecosystem. The land's incline prevents some areas to receive and maintain a water
Sport is the new Opiate of the Masses it behaves in the same way religion does as it is used as a deterrent from our everyday lives. Religion main function is to preserve the status quo, which means that it serves the “haves” and keeps the “have-nots” down in their place. Sport may be very different from
Fun at organized, purpose-driven sports is associated with achieving goals rather than physical expression and joy. The process is now secondary to the product, and the journey is secondary to the destination. People in postindustrial societies live with the legacy of industrialization. They emphasize organization according to rational principles based, whenever possible, on systematic research. Being organized and making plans to accomplish goals is so important that spontaneity, expression, creativity, and joy- the element of play- are given low priority or may even be considered frivolous by event planners, coaches, and spectators. Snowboarder Terje Haakonsen decided against performing in the Olympics because he didn’t want to endorse a form of sport in which organization and rationalization had subverted play. Haakonsen believe that fun and effort merge together in sports when they are done in terms set by participants. This merger collapse when sports are done for judges using criteria that ignore the subjective experience of participation. When creating sports, these are important things to remember because there is a tendency in postindustrial cultures to organize all physical activities for the purposes of rationally assessing skills and performances. Working to improve physical
The United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Sport for Development and Peace. “Sport as a
As Foucault says, “control and labelling the athletes force them to follow a certain route of expertise, knowledge and discipline that encourage them to police themselves and follow a certain normalized standard model”(). This type of knowledge hugely impacts athlete’s lifestyle in a way that they try to “make minimal errors, become passive in decision-making and active in following standards set by capitalists”. This type of routine and normalize lifestyle make athletes powerless and out of control of their lives which unable them to be able to manage their
The significance in comparison will also highlight the more or less favoured sports. What is also expected of athletes in the New Zealand sporting world, also contributes to an International perspective. This is witnessed through the ideas of commercialism, political status and controlled integration.
Firstly, an atmosphere where sport activities are performed is very hostile. An instance where racial discrimination is prevalent, riots may occur during which sports such as crickets, soccer, and baseball, basketball now become less preferred due to the preference of some athletes to others as a result of their colour, culture and race. An instance of this kind of incident is the ill treatment of some players by fans racism at the Spain v. England international football match in Madrid on 17 November 2004 (Bradbury, & Williams, 2006 p.61). This shows how racial discrimination has negativity impacted on sportive activities. Many of athletes are concerned about their personal safety when registering for sportive tournaments, such as the Olympics. The safety of the spectators and the athletes is very important in different sports, if this issue is not resolved, the situation which sportive activities may soon be stagnated and even In such an atmosphere, no athlete will never participate, even thinking about registering his or her name for any sportive events.
The most substantial impacts are incurred during the initial development, or the later expansion, of the ski area. The processes of creating trails and infrastructure require the clearing of trees, vegetation, and other protrusions; this then alters wildlife habitats and alpine watersheds (Marshall). Additionally, there are concerns regarding the use of artificial snow supplements. Artificial snow deviates from natural snow in its physical and chemical properties. These deviations cause alterations to the snowpack, which in turn affect the growing season, and cause chemical changes to the soil, which then affect interactions between soil, plants, and wildlife
It is extremely easy to forget the impact imposed by skiing on the mountain environment. Most people believe the only effect that they have on the environment within mountain regions are the tracks in the snow left by their skis. However, there is strong evidence that skiing has both social and, more noticeably, environmental impacts that influence the natural environment. Some experts in the Alpine region suggest that tourists directly affect over half of the entire Alps surface area. It can therefore be stated that the Alps are now one of the most threatened mountain ecosystems on Earth.
Thin air encompasses me as I commence the final day of skiing at Vail, Colorado. Seven days of skiing elapse rather painlessly; I fall occasionally but an evening in the Jacuzzi soothes my minor aches. Closing time approaches on the final day of our trip as I prepare myself for the final run of the vacation. Fresh off the ski lift, I coast toward the junction of trails on the unoccupied expert face of the mountain. After a moment of thought, I confidently select a narrow trail so steep that only the entrance can be seen from my viewpoint.
Challenge plays an essential role in defining a sport; it provides the individual with the feeling of achievement in success. Skiing poses challenge even in its simplest foundations. Skiing on a poor quality hill, with icy snow and poor upkeep can sometimes create more challenge than a well-groomed slope. Skiing in the backcountry away from lifts and other people in freshly fallen snow provides an opportunity for the best of skiers to test t...
The first category of sports is individual sports, in which a person can play alone if he/she does not have any partner. For example, auto racing, tent pegging, golf, fishing, skating, skiing, swimming, martial arts and cycling. These are the sports that a person can play alone and maintain his/her fitness while enjoying the game. Unlike team sports, individual sports focus more on personal growth and accomplishment. In indivi...