Academics question ecological footprint of world's largest cycle race
Three academics from Cardiff University have published a report which labels the Tour De France as having one of the worst ecologically footprints of all worldwide sporting events.
The authors of the report are Dr Andrea Collins from Cardiff University’s School of Planning and Geography and Prof Max Munday and Dr Annette Roberts from Cardiff University’s Business School.
Ahead of the 100th edition of the Tour de France taking place in 2013, the study into the environmental downsides draws on feedback from 1,400 spectators who attended the 2007 race's opening stage spanning London to Kent. Spectators apprarently travelled an average of 734 kilometers to watch the event at the roadside, bringing £150m to the economy.
The research states that the land required to support the race is 143 times the area of London's Olympic park.
Dr Collins commented: “Organisers need to be better informed about the local and global environmental impacts that can result from staging a major sport event. Our study of the Tour de France has demonstrated that although events can result in large economic benefits they can also generate significant environmental impacts. These impacts need to be identified from the outset so that practical steps can be taken during the planning stages to reduce them as far as possible. Organisers could also use this environmental information to communicate how successful they have been in reducing the negative impacts associated with the event.
“Major sport events are often used to raise our awareness of particular issues such as the health benefits of physical activity. However, their value as a vehicle for raising public awareness of environmental issues and encouraging spectators to take small, but significant changes has yet to be realised.”
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‘The Environmental Impacts of Major Cycling Events: Reflections on the UK Stages of the Tour de France’ report will be distributed to the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) which currently owns and organises the Tour de France, amongst other organisations involved in organising major sporting events in the UK and beyond.
There's bound to be several arguements for and against taking this research seriously - let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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3 comments
As the executive director of the Council for Responsible Sport, an organization that validates the good work event organizers are doing in terms of environmental and social responsibility, I'd have to agree with the authors' conclusion that Le Tour has a tremendous environmental impact. The carbon footprint alone is huge (think of the impact of the publicity caravan, operations vehicles and team vehicles, each one driving at least 3.360 kilometers in 2013). So, too, is the amount of waste generated at start and finish villages and along the course each day. I do, however, take exception with the last paragraph: “Major sport events are often used to raise our awareness of particular issues such as the health benefits of physical activity. However, their value as a vehicle for raising public awareness of environmental issues and encouraging spectators to take small, but significant changes has yet to be realised.” All of the events we've certified (65 and counting), and every member of the Green Sports Alliance makes a concerted effort to raise public awareness of environmental issues and impacts associated with producing major sporting events. Here's hoping ASO and Le Tour take this report as a challenge and begin to realize what they can do to contribute to building public awareness and encouraging spectators to make changes for the good of the environment.
Keith Peters Nov 15th 2012 at 5:52PM
0 0Who cares what effect that the TDF or other cycle races has on the environment or 'carbon emissions'? Not me that's for sure! Do I stop to think, "Oh dear think how much CO2 are those amps producing" when I go to a heavy metal gig? Or, "How much energy has been used making those fireworks" on bonfire night? No I bloody don't because it's an amazing spectacle and well worth it.
David French Nov 15th 2012 at 9:02PM
0 0I'm not sure that any claim for lack of environmental impact has ever been made for any cycle race ... it's virtually impossible to stage any global sporting event with spectators and athletes coming from all over the world to watch or participate - the spectator-kms alone have a huge influence.
What is interesting is the coupling of the perception that we as cyclists might be convinced that the TdF is green just because it involves bicycles and a feeling that has been documented amongst some of those who enjoy taking a pop at cyclists generally, that a degree of "green arrogance" exists within the cycling community.
Graeme King Nov 16th 2012 at 8:39PM
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