Are artificial sport facilities disconnecting athletes from nature?

This book chapter examines how the growing use of artificial sport facilities (e.g. artificial ski tracks, indoor ski slopes, artificial rapids, artificial turf fields) influences sport participation, environmental sustainability, and people’s relationship with nature. Many sports increasingly rely on highly controlled and technologically adapted environments that require substantial energy, materials, and environmental modification. While research often focuses on the direct environmental impacts of sport facilities, much less attention has been paid to how these environments shape athletes’ perceptions of nature and sustainability.

The chapter draws on environmental sustainability research, sport sociology, pedagogy, and sport management literature and uses examples from cross-country skiing, canoe slalom, and football artificial turf systems to discuss broader trends in the “artificialisation” and “sportification” of sport environments. Artificial sport facilities often prioritise control, standardisation, performance, and predictability over environmental considerations. The authors thus suggest that these facilities may reinforce “active domination” relationships with nature, where environments are adapted to sport rather than sport adapting to environmental conditions. At the same time, they acknowledge that artificial facilities may increase accessibility, participation, and year-round opportunities for physical activity.

Future sport facilities should move toward more “contextual” and environmentally sensitive approaches that balance participation, performance, and sustainability. Environmental concerns must become more central within the broader development and organisation of sport.

CITE: Backman, E., Svensson, D., & Danielski, I. (2023). The changing landscape of sport facilities: Consequences for practitioners and the environment. In: Sport, performance and sustainability (pp. 50-65). Routledge. DOI: 10.4324/9781003283324-6