Sustainable events
Many events in sports and outdoor life mean an increased burden on both the natural and cultural environment. To protect the environment, more sustainable solutions are needed. We wanted to increase knowledge about factors such as transport, attitudes, material use, consumption and accessibility.
The research theme
Events are becoming an increasingly common reason to travel. More and more people are choosing to visit an event – both as participants and spectators. It is precisely in what is known in research as Sport & Outdoors Events that is experiencing very rapid growth. Steadily growing demand and increasing supply are also reinforced by current trends in health and lifestyle.
New requirements for visitors and organizers
Of course, the increase in events creates opportunities for the industry, such as employment and growth, while the events put a strain on both natural and cultural landscapes. Events, such as mountain marathons, are often found in sensitive environments in more or less peripheral locations, but events in urban environments, such as Göteborgsvarvet, also affect the environment in different ways. This partly places new demands on both visitors and organizers.
While these events attract more participants than ever, overtourism and climate challenges are being discussed. We wanted to be involved and contribute to more sustainable events and we believe that the way forward is more knowledge as a basis for new solutions.
A movement with a more long-term perspective
By studying both visitors who consume events and organizers who produce events, as well as those who participate, our work contributed to increased knowledge that can meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.
In collaboration with event stakeholders, we wanted to identify needs that could form the basis for research and in-depth analyses. We have increased knowledge about factors such as transport, attitudes, material use, consumption and accessibility.
Result
Read about the theme's results in the final report on Mistra Sport & Outdoors phase 1 (pdf)
Read about the theme in Mistra Sport & Outdoor's final popular science report (pdf) in Swedish
Research group
- Robert Pettersson, Theme Leader, Associate Professor of Tourism Studies at Mid Sweden University
- John Armbrecht, Deputy Theme Leader, Associate Professor of Business Administration with a focus on Marketing at the University of Gothenburg.
university - Tommy Andersson, Professor of Business Administration specialising in Tourism at the University of Gothenburg
- Erik Lundberg, PhD in Business Administration specialising in Marketing at the University of Gothenburg
- Lusine Margaryan, PhD in Tourism Studies at Mid Sweden University
- Malin Zillinger, PhD in Human Geography at Lund University
- Axel Eriksson, PhD student (now PhD) in Tourism Studies at Mid Sweden University
Learning group
The learning group within the theme Sustainable Events worked to develop knowledge and solutions within the following question:
How can we create environmentally sustainable events in sports and outdoor life?
- What measures do event organizers need to implement?
- What measures are needed for visitors and participants in events?
- How can sports and outdoor events relate to trends and prevailing circumstances?
The learning group consisted of the following actors:
- Swedish Association of Outdoor Organisations, Susanne Maarup
- City of Gothenburg Got Event, Henrik Jutbring
- A Swedish classic, Staffan Movin
- The Swedish Sports Confederation, Lisa Engman
- Researchers: Robert Pettersson, Lusine Margaryan and Axel Eriksson, Mid Sweden University, John Armbrecht and Erik Lundberg, University of Gothenburg
- Facilitator: Åsa Sund, Greengoat