The intersection of environmental sustainability, risk management, and resilience is rapidly emerging as a key area of inquiry in the sports industry. Increasingly, sport organizations across the globe are being confronted by the multifaceted impacts of environmental changes such as climate crises, resource depletion, and pollution. With sporting events and infrastructure linked to ecological systems, these risks are compounded by operational, legal, financial, and reputational vulnerabilities. Recent studies have identified both the negative ecological footprint of major sporting events and the potential for sport to act as an agent of positive change. Nonetheless, the literature also reveals significant gaps in our understanding of how governance frameworks can balance profitability, sustainability, and long-term resilience, especially at the community club level and in the context of rapidly evolving global challenges.

Amidst this landscape, organizations are increasingly called upon to embed sustainability and robust risk management within core governance models. Yet, many sport sectors remain at an early stage in designing accountable, effective strategies to address their unique risk exposures while advancing global sustainability goals. Existing research frequently focuses on either risk management or environmental performance in isolation, without fully elucidating the synergies between these domains or their broader implications for corporate decision-making and community well-being. The need for new multidimensional frameworks, empirical studies, and practical methodologies is therefore critical to inform policies and innovate sustainable practices throughout the sports ecosystem.

This Research Topic aims to develop and disseminate theoretical and empirical work that elucidates the complex interplay between environmental sustainability and risk management within sport organizations. We seek to advance foundational theory, synthesize existing evidence, and highlight the value of integrated governance approaches for building sectoral resilience. The overarching objective is to generate actionable insights, identify best practices, and promote dialogue on methodologies for identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks while supporting environmental stewardship, particularly in the context of mega sporting events.

To gather further insights in balancing economic competitiveness, environmental performance, and organizational resilience within the sport industry, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Environmental sustainability strategies for mega sporting events and development of research agendas for action
• Stakeholder engagement and priority setting for climate-responsive governance within sport organizations
• Challenges, opportunities, and future directions for sport’s contribution to environmental sustainability
• Energy risk management and the role of sport in advancing the carbon-neutral energy transition
• Circular design and its potential to drive innovation and sustainability in the sport sector
• The political and geopolitical economy of sport in furthering the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
• The impact of digitalization in enabling and scaling sustainability practices in sport organizations

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Sustainability and risk governance for resilience in the global sports industry