SOSPARKS - Sustainable sport in the Parks

The ''Sustainable sport in the Parks" project aims to make sports events held within the Protected Areas more sustainable, investigating the impacts they produce on the environment. The idea stems from the observation of sporting events held in the Protected Areas of Partner Countries. These are often organised in areas not properly mapped, at times of the year sensitive for the fauna and flora, using highly polluting disposable products and without adequate awareness of the environment, ignoring the importance of the contribution that each of us can and must make to promote a more sustainable development of the territory while respecting biodiversity heritage to be protected for future generations. The sporting event held within a protected area, in a context of great environmental value, is also a valuable social opportunity to spread the principles of environmental education not only among participants and organisers, but also among local communities, schools, families, people with disabilities, the elderly. The event thus becomes an opportunity not only sporting l but above all educational, able to convey both the principles of the Green Deal and the European ecological transition, but also the values of respect, solidarity, thus overcoming obstacles due to disability, cultural, social, economic differences and discrimination in general. Environmental education will make it possible to build “events in the event”, fostering socialisation, thus helping to fill the sense of isolation and loneliness that the pandemic has amplified. The project will realise the 'Guidelines of Sports Events in Protected Areas', containing indications for the protection of the environment and environmental education activities. They will be an indispensable tool to make sport events in protected areas more sustainable.