Work

The Carbon Footprint of Sports Events: an Evaluation of the Tournaments Organized by the Turkish University Sports Federation in Terms of Sustainability

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study evaluates the environmental sustainability of four interuniversity tournaments (football, volleyball, basketball, and futsal) organized by the Turkish University Sports Federation (TUSF) in the 2024–2025 season by calculating their carbon footprints. Data from 415 participants representing 24 universities were compiled from tournament records, including travel distances, overnight stays, and meal consumption. Emissions were estimated using coefficients recommended by the IPCC and the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) for transportation (0.089 kg CO₂e per person-km), accommodation (6.8 kg CO₂e per person-night), and food (2.5 kg CO₂e per meal). Total emissions ranged from 3,584.4 kg CO₂e (volleyball) to 9,774 kg CO₂e (futsal), with travel distance and accommodation duration being the main drivers. Overall, the results indicate that sustainability-oriented planning in university sports tournaments should prioritize reducing travel-related emissions and managing accommodation demand, because these two components largely explain the differences between low- and high-emission events.

Source: Ankara Üniversitesi Beden Eğitimi ve Spor Yüksekokulu SPORMETRE Beden Eğitimi ve Spor Bilimleri Dergisi

DOI: 10.33689/spormetre.1833361

Author: Tarkan Havadar

Institution: Kafkas University

Language: Turkish

Topic: Sport and Mega-Event Impacts

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Climate action, Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: Kafkas Üniversitesi