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Nicholas McGeehan is a founding co-director of FairSquare and co-author of the damning report Substitute: The Case for External Reform of FIFA. He joins me today to unpack the long history of systemic dysfunction within FIFA—from its roots in patronage and cronyism to recent scandals surrounding World Cup hosts like Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Nick offers a detailed look at FIFA's failures on human rights, governance, and safeguarding in both the men's and women’s game, while also presenting a hopeful vision for a better way forward. This is a must-listen for anyone who loves football but demands accountability. This episode was recorded in December 2024. Support the show Please feel free to reach out to the show on Web: sustainingsport.com Instagram: @sustainingsport Linkedin: /sustaining-sport Facebook: @sustainingsport Twitter: @SustainSportPod Now on Bluesky /sustainingsport.bsky.social or contact us at: [email protected]

Chris Britt-Searle is a passionate volunteer with The Next Test. This UK-based nonprofit is becoming a vital hub for players, clubs, and fans committed to addressing the environmental challenges facing cricket. In this thought-provoking discussion, Chris shares the story behind The Next Test and offers insights into the organisation’s role in uniting the cricketing community to confront ecological issues. We examine the current status of cricket in the face of climate change and explore how players, sports organisations, and governing bodies contribute to helping (or hindering) sustainable change. Our conversation also touches on the complexities of partnerships with environmental activist groups, the challenges posed by high-carbon sponsorships, and the broader implications of ecological uncertainty on the growth and development of cricket worldwide. This episode goes beyond the boundaries (all puns intended) of the game, challenging assumptions and offering a look at cricket’s potential to lead in the fight against climate change. Whether you are a player, fan, or simply curious about the intersection of sports and sustainability, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. This episode was recorded in November 2024. Support the show Please feel free to reach out to the show on Web: sustainingsport.com Instagram: @sustainingsport Linkedin: /sustaining-sport Facebook: @sustainingsport Twitter: @SustainSportPod Now on Bluesky /sustainingsport.bsky.social or contact us at: [email protected]

Alaukik Shrivastava is a legal scholar and Assistant Professor at Nirma University in Gujarat, India. He joins us here to discuss the fascinating and fast-growing industry of fantasy sports. India has a notable legal approach to gaming versus gambling. The line between games of chance and games of skill is a fine one, and it's something that regulators are struggling to get on top of. We have discussed in previous episodes how open-access gambling can be very harmful to society. But there is also an argument that leaving it to the black market means players have no protections and the state cannot benefit from what is a significant economic engine. Alaukik brings his vast knowledge of the historical, legal and cultural aspects that have led to this point and makes a compelling case for undertaking a thorough critical review of the rules of each new game, before casting judgment. You can find Alaukik on his LinkedIn or Instagram. Also please find links to X-Bet/X-Bat and a fake Indian cricket league for Russian gamblers stories referenced in the episode. Support the show Please feel free to reach out to the show on Web: sustainingsport.com Instagram: @sustainingsport Linkedin: /sustaining-sport Facebook: @sustainingsport Twitter: @SustainSportPod Now on Bluesky /sustainingsport.bsky.social or contact us at: [email protected]

Madeleine Orr is an Assistant Professor of Sport Ecology at the University of Toronto. She is also a co-founder of the Sport Ecology group, and in early May she will be releasing a brand-new book called “Warming Up, How Climate Change is Changing Sport” which, as you may guess, focuses on how sport is adapting to and wrestling with climate change. From seasonal sports' responses to climate shifts to using community sports facilities during natural disasters, this episode promises an eye-opening exploration of the environmental challenges and the hope that can spring from adversity. Maddy also shares with us how she navigates the double intersection of Sport with Sustainability and Academia with Industry. And we question the very definition of 'sustainability' in sports. Has this once-critical concept been diluted, and should we redefine the term to better align with the planet's needs while preserving the magic of sports in the future? I hope you find it interesting! You can (pre)order a copy of the book here: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/warming-up-9781399404525/   And maybe meet Maddy during her book tour. Dates, times and locations are here: https://twitter.com/maddyjorr/status/1777823539405500589  Support the show Please feel free to reach out to the show on Web: sustainingsport.com Instagram: @sustainingsport Linkedin: /sustaining-sport Facebook: @sustainingsport Twitter: @SustainSportPod Now on Bluesky /sustainingsport.bsky.social or contact us at: [email protected]

Today we are speaking with Chen Chen. He is an Assistant Professor at the University of Connecticut and writes prolifically about how sport intersects with many troubling trends across the globe including environmental decline and increasing inequality of wealth and power. This episode begins with Chen’s unique story that led him to these topics. Then we use his recent work on how the Dakar rally’s time in South America was a prime example of environmental injustice and even ecological imperialism, as local communities and areas dense with biodiversity were given no say in how and where this event took place. We explore how this event embodies larger issues of resource exploitation, environmental degradation, and cultural erasure. We also discuss some alternative ways of engaging in community sports such as The World Indigenous Games and Field of Dreamers – Cooperative Softball Association. Support the show Please feel free to reach out to the show on Web: sustainingsport.com Instagram: @sustainingsport Linkedin: /sustaining-sport Facebook: @sustainingsport Twitter: @SustainSportPod Now on Bluesky /sustainingsport.bsky.social or contact us at: [email protected]

Ugandan sports currently grapples with a complex network of interconnected challenges, including severe financial constraints, persistent mismanagement issues, a significant talent drain, and the undeniable impacts of climate change. The question is:  how can their sports improve and develop talent without further contributing to the climate crisis? Diving into this question with us is Sharon Muzaki, a budding environmental journalist and sports fan, in Kampala. Of course, such a discussion begs the subsequent question: is it even fair to expect a nation, that has contributed so little to the climate crisis, to include such considerations into the sporting growth model? There is no simple solution, but, speaking from both lived experiences and observations, Sharon gives us her preservative which informs a much better understanding of the problem - a problem is crying out for further consideration from the relevant stakeholders.  Support the show Please feel free to reach out to the show on Web: sustainingsport.com Instagram: @sustainingsport Linkedin: /sustaining-sport Facebook: @sustainingsport Twitter: @SustainSportPod Now on Bluesky /sustainingsport.bsky.social or contact us at: [email protected]

Advertising is supposed to be a way for businesses and entrepreneurs to show you how good their products are. But what if many of the products in adverts are actually bad? They could be bad for you or potentially bad for this planet and its delicately balanced biosphere. Today’s topic is bad advertising. We are talking to researcher Freddie Daley who works as a coordinator for a tremendous organisation called Badvertising. As sport holds a powerful place in the hearts and minds of fans and athletes around the world, it is a potent tool for advertisers. According to Statista, in 2022 the global sports sponsorship market was worth an estimated 66 billion U.S. dollars and is expected to grow to 107 billion U.S. dollars by 2030. It is one of sport’s biggest revenue streams, dwarfing that of merchandise and tickets. Freddie and his colleagues know this and therefore must dedicate a lot of time calling out and campaigning against adverts that contain false information or normalise businesses whose operations are harmful to people and the environment. Freddie joins us today to discuss this sport, sustainability, and advertising intersection. It’s a complex and arduous topic at times but his pragmatism and belief in the possibility of a better system makes it very much worth a listen! You can also find more research and work on this at the Rapid Transition Alliance. Support the show Please feel free to reach out to the show on Web: sustainingsport.com Instagram: @sustainingsport Linkedin: /sustaining-sport Facebook: @sustainingsport Twitter: @SustainSportPod Now on Bluesky /sustainingsport.bsky.social or contact us at: [email protected]

The convergence of sport, decoloniality, and the environment presents a labyrinth of intricate ideas, and as we delve into their interconnectedness, the complexity deepens. Joining us on this informative journey is Samuel Clevenger, an Assistant Professor at Towson University in the USA, who has been trying to unpack some of this intersection. We start with the radical concept of decoloniality—an evolution beyond mere decolonisation. Through philosophical references and anecdotes, we raise instances where sport has been wielded to perpetuate a Western-centric worldview, shaping notions of identity, imagery, and competition. Then, in contrast, we examine examples where Western sports were recast more in the image of the indigenous people who were pressured to play them. As we pivot to the environmental repercussions, a canvas of broader societal critiques unfurls. The discourse expands to encompass profound themes like climate justice, athlete and fan burnout, and the nuances of degrowth or post-growth. Whether you're a sports enthusiast, an environmental advocate, or simply curious about the multifaceted connections between these realms, there are undoubtedly ideas in this episode of interest to you. Support the show Please feel free to reach out to the show on Web: sustainingsport.com Instagram: @sustainingsport Linkedin: /sustaining-sport Facebook: @sustainingsport Twitter: @SustainSportPod Now on Bluesky /sustainingsport.bsky.social or contact us at: [email protected]

The relationship between money and sport is complex… This show has often discussed the issues that arise when the biggest carbon emitters buy or sponsor a sports club, often with the objective of improving their legitimacy or reputation. But this episode goes one step deeper, by looking at the more nuanced capital in-flows that have a few a degrees of separation. For example, the organisations that invest in or fund others to extract fossil fuels, rather than doing it themselves. Additionally, there are businesses that continuously try to tempt the consumer into making key purchases that will cause significant harm either to the consumer or somewhere else along the supply chain. And because of that separation, it’s tricky for sports fans to know that the companies whose names adorn the fronts of their teams' jerseys are profiting from something they might not agree with. But help is on the way. Michael Hardy has long sought to get his local team, Liverpool FC, to drop Standard Chartered as a sponsor. Standard chartered fund in a range of projects across the world that do not uphold the human rights of their workers and are responsible for a massive about of emissions. To try to make a difference, Michael and Platform, the organisation he works for, are launching the Game Changer Sponsorship Pledge: an exciting new initiative that tries to bring everyone who cares about sport but does not want to benefit from harm-causing activities. They want to put pressure on sports commercial directors to make better choices that better reflect the values of the fans, even if that means less lucrative deals. You can learn more about the Game Changer Sponsorship Pledge at: badverts.org/gamechanger Support the show Please feel free to reach out to the show on Web: sustainingsport.com Instagram: @sustainingsport Linkedin: /sustaining-sport Facebook: @sustainingsport Twitter: @SustainSportPod Now on Bluesky /sustainingsport.bsky.social or contact us at: [email protected]

“Sport is not industry: bringing sport back to sport management.” That is the title of a wonderful paper by Hallgeir Gammelsæter, of Molde University College in Norway. The paper argues that sport management, as a discipline, has become overly focused on the management or business aspect, pushing the sports industry into competing as any other form of entertainment. This raises questions about who sport is supposed to serve, as both athletes and fans have arguably become commodities for shareholder gain and authentic intangible community bonds are lost in the name of international growth. Crucially this trend seems to be self-reinforcing, as more investors, middlemen, and marketeers come in trying to carve out some revenue for themselves. Hallgeir joins us to discuss all of this and builds on it with insights from his other lines of work, including the incompatibility between elite sport and environmental sustainability - and how the professionalisation of sport is trickling down all the way to children's sport, meaning things at youth level are no longer just fun and games, when perhaps they still should be. Support the show Please feel free to reach out to the show on Web: sustainingsport.com Instagram: @sustainingsport Linkedin: /sustaining-sport Facebook: @sustainingsport Twitter: @SustainSportPod Now on Bluesky /sustainingsport.bsky.social or contact us at: [email protected]

Football fan culture is a highly coveted commodity to many businesses who look to use the spectacle of the game and the love for teams to promote the consumption of their products. But what if this culture was leveraged for more positive outcomes? Jenny Amann, a PhD student at the University of Brighton, recently co-authored a paper with an international expert on fan culture, Mark Doidge. In it, they present their research on how we might mobilise the collective behaviour of sports fans to help tackle climate change. Jenny joins us today to summarise this absorbing research and establishes its goal, which is to instigate structural change and not merely small changes in behaviour. Building on this, she highlights the need for more authentic forms of climate communication, custom designed for groups that are not already engaged on the issues. We end with a discussion on the many contradictions embedded within the more ‘corporate’ understanding of sustainability. Support the show Please feel free to reach out to the show on Web: sustainingsport.com Instagram: @sustainingsport Linkedin: /sustaining-sport Facebook: @sustainingsport Twitter: @SustainSportPod Now on Bluesky /sustainingsport.bsky.social or contact us at: [email protected]

How does winning an Olympic gold medal in canoeing inform a career in environmental activism? Etienne Stott, and his partner Tim Baillie, won the Men's slalom canoeing C-2 Event at the London 2012 Olympics, making history for Great Britain. Since retiring from competitive sport, Etienne has become increasingly involved with environmental activism, working with organizations such as Extinction Rebellion to raise awareness and push for action. In this episode, we take a deep dive into Etienne's journey from athlete to activist. We start with his sporting career and the pivotal moment that led to his Olympic success. Then, we shift our focus to the climate crisis and how Etienne understands the complex and systemic issues at play. As a canoeist, Etienne has a unique perspective on the power of nature and its connection to sport. We delve into how this inherent connection impacts his worldview and informs his approach to the environment. Finally, we explore how athletes can use their platform within society to call for action and make a positive impact. You can also see the recording of our interview at https://youtu.be/kV54aI716jk Support the show Please feel free to reach out to the show on Web: sustainingsport.com Instagram: @sustainingsport Linkedin: /sustaining-sport Facebook: @sustainingsport Twitter: @SustainSportPod Now on Bluesky /sustainingsport.bsky.social or contact us at: [email protected]

The Republic of Haiti is arguably the unluckiest country in recent history. It sits on a fault line and is regularly barraged by hurricanes. Additionally, it still struggles for social and economic stability after countless colonial injustices and outside interventions followed by dictators, gang violence and corruption. Sport, mainly football/soccer, plays a huge role in the nation’s culture which means it may be a source of relief. But how to leverage this potential in a country seemingly without hope?  James Louis-Charles has a plan! As a history teacher, he is well aware of the complex history of his home. And after many years working in Sport for Development, James believes that with the right steps, Haiti can become a great football-playing nation. This would mean two things: (1) young Haitians would have more pathways out of poverty, and (2) it could give the country some hope and unity in a way few things have before. Achieving this is exceptionally complex and requires a collaboration of local insights, good faith actors and external benefactors. But it’s worth fighting for! We begin this episode with James’ views on the history of Haiti followed by his passion for football and close with his compelling call for action! You can contact James on Twitter: @James_LouCha Support the show Please feel free to reach out to the show on Web: sustainingsport.com Instagram: @sustainingsport Linkedin: /sustaining-sport Facebook: @sustainingsport Twitter: @SustainSportPod Now on Bluesky /sustainingsport.bsky.social or contact us at: [email protected]

To try to answer this complicated question we have Tristan Niesslein of Niesslein Sustainability Partners on the show. We discuss (1) the contradictions facing motorsport’s efforts to reduce its environmental impact, (2) how it’s time for ‘stick over carrot’ on sustainability regulations, (3) questions about the source of sponsorship funds, and (4) the big issues regarding diversity and inclusivity.  We perhaps raise more questions than provide conclusive answers, but it’s essential to know where we are so we know where we need to go, and there is definitely some hope for this industry to improve. Support the show Please feel free to reach out to the show on Web: sustainingsport.com Instagram: @sustainingsport Linkedin: /sustaining-sport Facebook: @sustainingsport Twitter: @SustainSportPod Now on Bluesky /sustainingsport.bsky.social or contact us at: [email protected]

The relationship between the leaders of nation-states and the gatekeepers of sporting mega-events is both powerful and complex. Organisations, such as FIFA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), have revenues in the billions of dollars and are supranational. They have a disproportionate and troubling degree of political power.    Much has been written about the environmental and human rights disaster of the men’s football World Cup in Qatar as finally being a step too far in terms of host selection. However, evidence suggests that this was an almost inevitable outcome of systemic problems within FIFA.    To talk us through this, it’s a pleasure to be joined by Jules Boykoff, Professor of political science at Pacific University in Oregon, USA. He is the author of five books on the politics of sports mega-events, most recently, ‘The 1936 Berlin Olympics: Race, Power, and Sportswashing’. He is also a former professional footballer, having represented the US Under-23 Men’s National Team so he has seen how these events work from all angles. You can also see the recording of our interview at https://youtu.be/yjskkjE8JjA with some additional visual information. Support the show Please feel free to reach out to the show on Web: sustainingsport.com Instagram: @sustainingsport Linkedin: /sustaining-sport Facebook: @sustainingsport Twitter: @SustainSportPod Now on Bluesky /sustainingsport.bsky.social or contact us at: [email protected]