Premier League teams must elevate their stance on environmental issues concerning climate change as urged by Sport England's head, Chris Boardman, at an upcoming summit (Sport Positive Summit).
In a speech anticipated by The Guardian, Boardman questions why 10 Premier League clubs traveled to the US for pre-season matches and Tottenham and Newcastle played in Melbourne shortly after their regular season concluded.
The accomplished former cyclist, an Olympic gold medal holder, will urge teams to avoid short flights, cut down on single-use plastics usage, and opt for meals with lower carbon emissions footprints.
Boardman's critique holds more weight given his role in overseeing a fund that provides £250 million yearly into sports – including contributing nearly half (£440 million) of football-related investment from national lottery and government sources within the past two decades.
“In Britain,” Boardman is set to say in his address at Sport Positive Summit, “football holds significant cultural relevance.” He further notes that Premier League stands among world's most popular sports leagues due its far-re0ranging impact and influence: "This year half of the Premiership – 10 teams — have traveled to America for noncompetitive games. Manchester United has flown almost 13,000 miles across Norway, Scotland, US with their pre-season itinerary.” He adds that Spurs and Newcastle’s exhibition fixture in Melbourne following the season's end is considered “unreasonable” by Alan Shearer who called for such actions as "absurd."
“I believe practicality over moral extremism,” he clarified. While not advocating outright flight bans, Boardman argues that we need to find a healthier balance in our activities: He encourages Premier League teams “to take the right side of history” by taking environmental concerns into account and making substantial changes where needed – which includes promoting sustainable transport options for fans like cycling or public transit; reducing single-use plastics use, implementing renewables such as solar power at their facilities to improve energy efficiency. He further praises Southampton's initiatives involving local non-league games and West Ham’s actions: “By playing against nearby lower leagues they have not only generated funds for the football structure but also positively impacted surrounding economies.”
He recognizes that there are various ways clubs can contribute, many of which may be fairly straightforward. He emphasises on potential further efforts like Millwall's commitment to avoiding short-haul flights exclusively reserved for match purposes: “It is crucial not only at home but also internationally.”
In addition, he draws attention towards FIFA’s controversial choice of hosting the 2030 World Cup across three continents – a decision that could potentially increase carbon footprint. He questions UEFA's expansion plans for its men's European club competitions: “Without considering planetary consequences,” such an addition will translate into almost double (177 additional matches) number of games per season, placing growth prioritizing over environmental concerns – something he deems misguided and detrimental.
Concluding his speech at the Sport Positive Summit Boardman encourages Britain’s leading athletes to voice their standpoints on climate change: "When we surveyed UK children 65% expressed a desire for sports figures championing this cause," he said, pointing out examples like Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford as influential role models whose actions are widely imitated by people. He underscores the fact that “Sport has one of its biggest global platforms,” calling on these prominent athletes to leverage it in order to inspire action towards environmental sustainability: "Now is time for them, and us all.”
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