The natural sphere and sport

Most sport activities tend to overpower our nature (e.g. fields, water and snow). Certain sports demand special territories which are uneven and disproportioned. It means, firstly, that nature can be a criterion of sport activities, and secondly, sports also affect the environment and landscapes. Therefore one of the main questions of sport geography is to get answers of how environment influences sport performances. It is also studied how sports have transformed landscapes. When planning the infrastructure of sports it should also be decided what the sustainability might mean within a specific context. Without knowing what the relationships are among the following factors, that is, traditional sports, outdoor recreation, economic growth, tourism and their environmental risks projecting plans cannot happen. We are offering few examples of the connection between sports and nature without a thorough analysis. (Details can be read in Bánhidi, M. 2011).

Topography; its significance can be detected

• firstly, in the human-biological effects of the (absolute) height above sea level (e.g. mountaineering, high-altitude trainings, competitions),
• secondly, to overcome relative  height difference (e.g. paragliding, Alpine skiing)
• thirdly, sports field when overcoming the changing altitudes (e.g. ski-running, running in the hills or on roads, bike races). Smooth surfaces ensuring equal opportunities (for example, athletics, and ball games).

Climatic endowments: climate in many cases is closely related to certain sports (e.g. wind-sailing, snow, low temperature-winter sports). All these factors and medicaments, sport dresses and technical equipment affect the competitive conditions and techniques (e.g. wind direction in javelin-throwing, tires appropriate for the surface temperature and humidity of race tracks).

The international events of recreation and competitive sports are organised in various geographic and climatic places. Very often athletes have to put up with unaccustomed climatic circumstances. For some time professionals have been dealing with the questions of acclimatization as well as the problems of optimal climate (e.g. temperature of air, water and snow, humidity, precipitation, wind force and wind direction). This information is needed to be able to become high achievers.

Hydrographical conditions: sport activities in rivers, lakes, seas. The qualities of natural waters have greatly affected the development of water sports equipment (e.g. rafts designed for wild waters in contrast to canoes).  Recently sport equipment has been designed and made so as to serve the aims of competitions, for example, kayak for competitions vs. kayak for spending leisure time. To do water sports it is crucial to equip athletes with competences so that they will become aware of the challenges and changes of space and time. Underwater sports, such as diving, also require lots of knowledge, preparation and of course, equipment. Warm sea waters are the real terrain and area of this sport (Bánhidi, M. 2011). 

Vegetation and terrains: in certain countries vegetation has crucial role in, for example, orienteering, ski orienteering, cross country race. The extremity and aesthetics of the environment and natural circumstances can attract athletes to do strenuous sports like desert competitions or mountaineering.

Environmental aspects: the territorial expansion of sports is well known. For this reason it is evident that their interrelationship with nature and environment is not always undisturbed and smooth. Building sport facilities often happens at the expense of nature. Besides this their maintenance also affects our environment (e.g.: lighting, noise and energy consumption). Moreover, auto-motor and flying sports cause considerable pollution.

Ski centres have the most harmful sports facilities. The sensitive balance between the flora and fauna around these organizations and centres can easily break. Especially ski resorts and ski trucks as well as using artificial snow do a lot of harm (Herlicska, K. 2000). To build new ski trucks forests should be cut down and naturally new hotel lifts and service buildings are needed, therefore the surface is bulldozed. (More details can be found in Bánhidi, M. 2011).