Climate change impacts on community sport in Australia: manager perspectives and adaptation

Rationale The aim of this study was to examine manager perceptions of climate impacts, and climate change adaptation, in community-level sport. Existing research gives little guidance about sport’s climate risks or adaptation possibilities. This paper responds to this gap.Methodology Using qualitative methods, data was collected through in-depth interviews and focus groups with managers at state and local-level organizations delivering community sport.Findings Four impacts were identified. Only incremental climate change adaptation was evident. Enablers of adaptation were: (1) resources (2) organizational and (3) infrastructure and design. Barriers to adaptation were: (1) resources (2) institutional and (3) infrastructural.Practical Implications : Insights for sport management practitioners are offered for conceptualizing climate hazards to community sport, domains where climate impacts occur, factors enabling or limiting climate change adaptation, and options for management responses.Research Contribution Evidence is presented of catastrophic climate impacts on sport. A cascade of climate impacts on community sport is proposed. Factors enabling or constraining climate change adaptation are identified. Community sport managers are positioned as climate change adaptation actors.Originality An analytical framework is proposed, integrating five conceptual domains: (1) hazards, (2) sport, (3) impacts, (4) enablers or barriers of adaptation and (5) responses ranging from business-as-usual to transformation.