By Jagathnarayan Madhanagopal
Sports are arguably some of the greatest unifiers in the current world. Whether watching or playing a sport, a lot of diversity and perspectives from various cultures get mixed up when a group of individuals compete at any level of a sport they are passionate about. On top of providing entertainment, sports are one of the prominent platforms to shine a light on social justice movements due to the number of eyes they draw from their audiences. Despite how controversial the public thinks having politics get mixed in with sports is, the publicity gained through sporting events’ promoting causes helps gain traction for the cause and helps to grow support for it. A great example of this would be the 2020 Bubble NBA setting, where NBA players confined to the Disney World resort in Orlando, Florida, kneeled in solidarity against police brutality in the wake of the George Floyd case. Many people who tuned into the games could gain a basic understanding of why the athletes took time out of the game to talk about events that were bigger than the game itself.
In my humble opinion, many sports leagues should consider using their platform to promote causes that need immediate support, for example, the current climate crisis affecting people in multiple aspects, including intense drought, storms, heat waves, rising sea levels, melting glaciers and warming oceans. Fortunately, one such event was the World Games 2022, held in Birmingham, Alabama, specifically at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) campus. The Birmingham Organizing Committee (BOC) for the World Games this year decided that they were going to implement a sustainability program that would have a lasting positive environmental impact on its host city (The World).
Members of UAB Sustainability helping out with promoting Zero-Waste venues during the World Games
Sustainability goals have always been a part of the city, and the addition of the World Games helped to accelerate the necessary impacts of the cause throughout the city. Throughout the World Games, UAB Sustainability collected 160 pounds of recycled cans, 310 pounds of plastic recycling, and 311 pounds of compost (UAB Sustainability). In addition to simply recycling, the World Games allowed the city to test new transportation methods. One of them is The Birmingham Xpress, an option with minimal exposure before the World Games. The 2022 World Games also partnered with Trees Birmingham, an initiative to plant trees across the city (The World). They also have Solar Powered energy systems installed by a local developer in EnPower Solutions, both in the opening and closing ceremonies, which is a testament to how impactful solar energy can be.
Overall, the Birmingham community has taken the proper steps toward adopting sustainable methods, and the World Games catalyzed these new initiatives. I would like to see more sporting events using their platforms to spread awareness regarding environmental problems now more than ever.
Work Cited
The World Games 2022 announces sustainability initiatives. IWGA. (n.d.). https://www.theworldgames.org/news/The-World-Games-2022-32/The-World-Games-2022-Announces-Sustainability-Initiatives-2125. Accessed August 20, 2022
Photograph: Uab Sustainability Promotes Zero-Waste during World Games 2022. (2022).