The game of life: Sports’ contribution to improving mental health and the health of the planet

Charleson et al (2022) argue that “While climate change is considered the biggest threat to global mental health in the coming century, tackling this threat could be the most significant opportunity to shape our mental health for centuries to come”. 2 While sport contributes strongly to mental health, sport has a chequered history when it comes to climate change, with a significant environmental footprint, a legacy which, in turn, is impacting the sustainability of many sporting codes, the mental health of athletes and the wellbeing of communities. Given the inextricable link between a healthy planet, healthy mind and healthy body, can sport show leadership in future-proofing sport for peoples’ wellbeing whilst future-proofing the planet’s wellbeing within a global community? Sport occupies a powerful position in realising societal ambitions, providing a high profile, accessible platform with strong social currency for influencing local and global audiences, and for inspiring and leading collective action. Sport is arguably unique in having a commensurate scale and reach to make a swift and sustainable impact on global crises, with more than 200 recognised national sports engaging communities on every continent. In this paper we ask whether sport can be a stronger force for good - turning its vicious cycle of environmental impact into a virtuous circle by becoming part of the ecological, economic and social climate change solution, from community sport, to the Olympic Games?