"The International Olympic Committee (IOC) sees o it that the Olympic Games are held in conditions which demonstrate a responsible concern for environmental issues and encourages the Olympic Movement to demonstrate a responsible concern for environmental issues, takes measures to reflect such concern in its activities and educates all those connected with the Olympic Movement as to the importance of sustainable development."
Rule 2, paragraph 13, Olympic Charter

A typical athletic complex churns fossil fuels and human potential through a money-driven, technological blender. In goes non-renewable resources, unimaginative design and advertisements, and cash from the masses and out goes waste for the taxpayers to clean up, brainwashed citizens, and riches for the rich.

The current architectural designs of sports stadiums support the profit motives of government and business and keep the people happy with a gold medal, super bowl, and championship trophy every once and an awhile. In addition to the $20-50 you pay to enter a sports, here are just a few ways WE pay later: concentrated toxic waste (such as fertilizers and human waste) flow from the stadium's sewers, large amounts of garbage, promotion of junk foods, tremendous electricity bills and consumption of fossil fuels.

Sports stadiums look like economic boons for a struggling town or revitalization projects for the depressed downtown. The building funnels inputs from outside the community (building contracts, fossil fuels, national food chains, and electricity from miles away) and outputs waste into the community (e.g. toxins, junk food). Funnels are an inherently poor design for regeneration. To construct a sports arena that perpetually generates wealth - "the accomplished technological ability to protect, nurture, support, and accommodate all growful needs of life" -- within the community requires a change in the design principles (Critical Path by Buckminster Fuller p. xxvi).

I recently read an introductory book on permaculture, which teaches a method of design based on observing natural patterns and creating environments that provide food, energy, shelter, and other material and non-material needs. To apply ecological design, we must use our minds' "capacity to act as local Universe information-harvesters and local Universe problem-solvers in support of the integrity of eternally regenerative Universe" (Fuller p. xxxvi).

Let's imagine a regenerative sports arena where:

• All the food is grown on premises. Fruit trees shade the parking lot and bleachers. I can even imagine berry bushes and melon vines in the teams' area for their snacks.
• All waste is composted on site. There is no black water or gray water. The human waste is a valuable source of nitrogen in the compost, which is then used to fertilize the landscape.
• All water is harvested on premises. The dome or the gutters collect rainwater for drinking and watering the plants. All "gray water" from sinks and water fountains is used to water the lawn and fruit trees.
• Heating is provided by the sun's energy.
• Electricity generated on location from sun, wind, and biothermal energy.
• Athletic training, that is managing our organism to regenerate and grow, correlates to managing the ecosystem to regenerate and grow.
• One can be entertained and learn at the same time.
• Sheep or goats do the lawn mowing and fertilizing.
• Biodiversity is enhanced.
• The planning process takes relevant scientific disciplines - agriculture, zoology, sociology, physiology, etc and cultural perspectives into consideration, rather than considering it a purely architectural project.
• "Green space" is a moot point because the entire structure IS green space.

This situation is idyllic and perhaps utopian, but whether or not it can happen is not the question. The technology exists, but individuals within our culture do not know that it can happen. Few people empower other people to take initiative to do the things that need be done. Almost any of these aspects of the regenerative sports arena can be applied in your own home. And that's where the movement towards an ecological, sustainable society begins: with the action of integrative individuals acting with integrity on behalf of humanity. Let's not just start with demonstrating "responsible concern," what if the IOC, olympians, and all individuals, took the challenge to BE RESPONSIBLE for the environment?

Useful links:
Permaculture http://www.permacultureinstitute.com
Athens 2004 Environmental Foundation http://www.athensenvironmental.org
Cradle to Cradle Design http://www.mcdonough.com
Green and Gold, Inc: The Sustainable Sports Source http://www.greengold.on.ca
Global Forum for Sports and Environment http://www.g-forse.com