Climate Action Delay Discourses in the Sports Sector: Insights From Interviews With Athletes and Staff

ABSTRACT There is a major contradiction between the current model of international elite sport and efforts to mitigate climate change. This study investigates climate action delay discourses within the sports sector by analyzing 28 semi‐structured interviews with athletes and sports federation employees. Based on the two climate delay discourse typologies of Lamb et al. (2020, Global Sustainability , 3 : e17) and Cherry et al. (2024, Global Environmental Change 87: 102875), we identify and confirm several discourses that justify inaction or inadequate efforts toward climate change mitigation in the sports sector. System‐related narratives emphasized being trapped in the climate‐damaging system of international elite sport and stressed the need for leadership from other stakeholders inside and outside the sports sector. These system‐related narratives contradict other identified discourses that perceive sports climate responsibility as low and suggest an emphasis on voluntary climate actions. Narratives frequently also point to a lack of resources as a barrier to climate action. The discourses raised differences between athletes and sports federation employees. The study highlights the need to address both cognitive and structural dimensions of climate action delay and outlines approaches to challenge these discourses within the sports sector.