Mon Oct 14 07:30:05 UTC 2024: ## Ladakh’s Climate Cup: Football Tackles Climate Change in the Himalayas

**Leh, Ladakh:** The second edition of the Climate Cup, a football tournament held in Ladakh, has become a platform to raise awareness about the impact of climate change on sports and livelihoods. Held at the Spituk stadium in September, the tournament saw six teams compete, including local team 1 Ladakh FC, J&K Bank FC from Kashmir, Gokulam Kerala FC from Kerala, and NorthEast United FC from Assam.

The tournament highlighted the growing challenges faced by athletes and sporting events due to climate change. Increasing temperatures and extreme weather events, particularly in Ladakh, are affecting training schedules, impacting player performance, and posing health risks. The Climate Cup itself avoided scheduling matches during peak heat hours to protect players’ health.

“Even for us to organize football tournaments in Ladakh, we prefer the early morning hours or the evening hours,” said Tsering Angmo, General Secretary of Ladakh Football Association. “Especially for those training in the Under-17 or Under-13 categories, it is risky to play during the heat peaks.”

Coaches and players from different teams shared their experiences of adapting to climate change. Suhel Nair, head coach of NorthEast United Football Club, pointed out the need for athletes to adapt quickly to changing conditions, while Anand Pushparaj Karumat, Team Manager of Gokulam Kerala FC, highlighted the importance of starting training early in the day.

The event also served as a platform to discuss broader issues related to climate change and its impact on sports. David Goldblatt, a long-time sportswriter and researcher, highlighted the threat to winter sports, with several destinations relying on expensive and unsustainable artificial snow. He also emphasized the need for mitigation measures to protect sports from climate change impacts.

The Climate Cup organizers have implemented sustainable practices during the tournament, including replacing single-use plastic bottles with refillable ones, using electric buses for transportation, and distributing recycled jerseys to volunteers. The tournament has also inspired participating teams to adopt more sustainable practices, such as using water cans instead of plastic bottles.

While acknowledging the tournament’s positive impact, experts emphasized the need for greater action within the sporting world. “Teams must cut fossil fuel sponsorships and sportspersons must demand to get the owners and sponsors on board with climate action targets,” said Goldblatt. “There needs to be some leadership and organizations must commit to decarbonization goals.”

The Climate Cup, a testament to the growing consciousness surrounding climate change, highlights the need for sports to adapt and engage with the issue. As climate change continues to impact the world, sports will play a vital role in raising awareness and promoting sustainable practices.

Read More