In the past decade, over 130,000 cricket overs have been lost
A recent YouGov survey has highlighted that extreme weather events linked to climate change have impacted 63% of golf players and fans in the past year.
This survey sheds light on the difficulties faced by community sports in coping with conditions like floods.
Additionally, the survey reveals that 40% of football enthusiasts and players have been affected by extreme weather.
Chris Boardman, the head of Sport England, commented: “There’s a deep link between climate change and sports.”
The ex-cyclist emphasized: “Issues ranging from flooded fields, water quality, to intense heat, all significantly hinder physical activity.
“It’s clear that maintaining the current approach is unsustainable. We need to address this issue urgently and collectively.”
A report from the British Association of Sustainable Sport mentions that rain-soaked facilities, often with ankle-high water, are increasingly common in UK’s amateur sports, causing headaches for ground staff due to constant rescheduling and cancellations.
The report, based on a survey of 2,006 individuals, questioned whether they had participated in or watched community sports in the last year.
Out of 1,059 respondents involved in golf, football, or cricket, 48% reported being adversely affected by climate-linked bad weather.
Participants in golf, cricket, or football were queried about disruptions due to weather extremes linked to climate change.
Among golf players and spectators, 64% reported disturbances such as rescheduling, shortened matches, or cancellations, the report notes.
For cricket, this percentage was 60%, and Tammy Beaumont, a cricket world champion, stated: “Apart from immediate game losses, there’s a risk of long-term detriments to sports.
“Frequent cancellations might lead to players losing interest.
“If cricket seasons are mostly about rain delays or playing on subpar pitches, players might switch to other sports or quit altogether.”
This report echoes concerns from the Football Association, estimating around 120,000 game losses each season.
These findings emerge as the 2023-24 winter sports season faces disruptions from five major storms since September, including Storm Babet.
Recent data strongly suggests that 2023 could be the hottest year ever recorded.
Global air temperatures last month exceeded the previous record for October 2019 by 0.4C, as reported by the EU’s climate change service.
While October wasn’t as exceptionally hot as September, it still broke the record for the month by a significant margin, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Climate Impact Sports
How has extreme weather affected grassroots sports in the UK?
Extreme weather events linked to climate change have significantly impacted grassroots sports in the UK. Over the past decade, cricket has seen a loss of over 130,000 overs. A YouGov survey reveals that 63% of golf players and spectators experienced disruptions in the past year. Similarly, 40% of football players and fans have been affected. The British Association of Sustainable Sport reports that rain-soaked facilities are becoming increasingly common, leading to numerous cancellations and rescheduling challenges.
What are the long-term concerns for sports due to climate change?
Long-term concerns include decreased interest and participation in sports. World Cup winner Tammy Beaumont highlighted the risk of players losing interest in cricket due to frequent cancellations and poor playing conditions. The Football Association estimates around 120,000 lost games each season, indicating a substantial impact on football. There’s a growing concern that continued climate impacts could significantly diminish grassroots sports participation and enthusiasm.
What are the findings of the British Association of Sustainable Sport report?
The British Association of Sustainable Sport report surveyed 2,006 people, focusing on their experience with grassroots sports in the last 12 months. It found that 48% of participants in golf, football, or cricket were affected by bad weather linked to climate change. This included disruptions like match rescheduling, cancellations, and playing on poor-quality pitches. The report underscores the increasing challenges and disruptions faced by amateur sports in the UK due to climate change.
What does the recent data suggest about global temperatures?
Recent data suggests that 2023 is on track to be the warmest year on record. Global average air temperatures in the previous month were 0.4C warmer than the October high set in 2019. This finding, reported by the EU’s climate change service and the Copernicus Climate Change Service, indicates a continuous trend of rising global temperatures, reinforcing concerns about the ongoing impact of climate change.
More about Climate Impact Sports
- Climate Impact on UK Sports
- YouGov Survey on Weather and Sports
- British Association of Sustainable Sport Report
- EU Climate Change Service Data
- Copernicus Climate Change Service Findings
5 comments
120k football games lost, that’s huge!! Can’t just ignore these facts, we need to act on climate change fast.
Climate change is real, and its effects are everywhere! Good to see this getting attention but what’s the solution?
wow, didn’t know climate change was messing up sports so bad! golf and cricket too, not just football.
This is really concerning! hope they find a way to deal with all this rain and stuff messing up the games.
seriously, the warmest year on record again? these numbers are scary. makes you think twice about everything, even sports…