Sports for Nature: Can Competition Inspire Conservation?

This debate will explore the growing tension between outdoor sports and nature conservation. In Norway, national parks and wild spaces are often framed as open arenas for recreation and sports. However, as sports events increase in scale and frequency, so does their ecological footprint. Can athletes, organisers, and environmental advocates come together to ensure sport respects the very landscapes it celebrates? Sports for Nature would invite athletes, leaders, and public officials to explore the role that trail running, mountain sports, and outdoor recreation play in impacting natural ecosystems and in shaping our relationship with nature. This debate would also explore whether these activities can play a bigger role in its protection.