Calculating the carbon footprint of holding a sports competition at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium

Subject Areas : Environment, economy, engineering, urban planning and sustainable development

Mohadeseh Kalooti ¹ , Ali Fahiminejad ² , Bagher Morsal ³ , Hooman Bahmanpour ⁴

1 - Department of Physical Education, Sha.C., Islamic Azad University, Shahrood, Iran
2 - Department of Physical Education, Sha.C., Islamic Azad University, Shahrood, Iran
3 - Department of Physical Education, Sha.C., Islamic Azad University, Shahrood, Iran
4 - Department of HSE, Sha.C., Islamic Azad University, Shahrood, Iran

Received: 2025-10-04 Accepted : 2025-11-05 Published : 2025-11-26

Keywords: Carbon footprint, Carbon dioxide, Greenhouse gas, Sports competitions, Azadi Stadium,

Abstract :

The purpose of this research is to estimate the carbon footprint by calculating the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) produced and emitted as a greenhouse gas during sports competitions. This research is a simulation-based study with an applied purpose. Data were obtained from library resources, websites, and relevant reference centers. The method of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2014) was used to calculate the average CO₂ emission according to fuel consumption per unit of fuel for different vehicles. The environmental damage caused by CO₂ emissions was then estimated, and the total cost of all traffic-related emissions for one competition day was converted into monetary value. The equations were adapted from the Defra Guide (2016). Assuming 7,000 passenger cars, 300 buses, and 50 minibuses and vans, the total CO₂ emitted during a single football match day at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium was 53,210 kg. The largest portion originated from on-site rides (22,400 kg). For 26,605 kg of CO₂ emitted along the travel routes, the calculated monetary value of carbon emissions by the end of 2025 and 2039 – based on the World Bank formula – was 2,957.92 and 5,250.80 $, respectively.  By implementing management and engineering solutions and observing environmental considerations – such as turning off unnecessary lights, using exhaust filters, designing parking spaces efficiently, and minimizing parking duration – it is possible to prevent the production and emission of a substantial portion of pollutants.

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