University sport events and environmental management in the global south: Prospects and challenges for sustainability

There has been growing interest in the relationship between sporting events and the environment they are hosted in. Such discussions have sought to unpack the implications of sporting events on the environment as part of broader sustainable development concerns globally. However, many such studies have focused on large-scale sporting events, neglecting small-scale events, and especially annual events at universities. This is in spite of the popularity, and the large numbers associated with university sports. This study critically analyses the relationship between university sporting events and environmental management. The growing debates around sustainability in events management and tourism have gained significant focus in recent years, particularly in the Global North. Such contestations have largely been neglected in the Global South contexts, especially in smallerscale events and university sporting events. A quantitative research design was adopted in collecting data from questionnaire surveys from event attendees at university sports events, using a spatially based systematic sampling technique. Findings revealed a lack of proenvironmental behaviour amongst the attendees, resulting in negative environmental impacts at the events. Furthermore, how these events were hosted suggests minimal implementation of proper environmental management, especially insofar as waste disposal, awareness raising about pollution, and encouraging pro-environmental behaviour. The study concludes that event managers at university sporting events ought to make environmental management central to their events planning and management, and thus make deliberate efforts to enhance environmental education and pro-environmental behaviour amongst attendees.