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The nature of sport is competition but there is nature in sport that merits further consideration. That is the nature present in the environmental settings in which sport occurs. Since the Mexico Olympics in 1968, the environmental setting of sport had been viewed from the perspective of mitigation of environmental hazards including altitude, heat (Tokyo 2020), air (e.g. LA 1984, Beijing 2008) and water pollution (e.g. Rio 2016). Novel initiatives were taken to address these challenges, for example, in Beijing vehicles with odd numbered plates could only circulate on odd days, while even numbered plates were only allowed to circulate on even days. This combined with other strategies reduced resulted in a significant decrease in the particles and gases associated with air pollution for a period immediately before and during the Olympic games, estimated to have been a 30% reduction in major pollutants. More recently, in Tokyo 2021, to reduce the impact of heat on endurance events (e.g. marathon running) the venues were moved from the megapolis of Tokyo to Sapporo, 800km north where cooler climatic conditions were expected. In recent years, despite these challenges an increasing focus beyond the potential toxicity of the environment, towards the idea that the natural environment can be both salutogenic (health promoting) and ergogenic (performance enhancing) has emerged. In this keynote address, I will highlight that changing role of the natural environment in sport and exercise contexts. Firstly, it has been acknowledged that nature and health are not entirely unrelated. Time in green and blue space is associated with positive health and mental health benefits. This evidence underpins what are termed nature- based interventions. Firstly, engaging with authentic nature or its digital analogue can promote psychological recovery with potential application among athletic samples for recovery from injury or burnout. This could take the form of micro-breaks (short duration scheduled rest breaks taken to prevent the onset or progression of stress) or using a natural backdrop to physical therapy interventions. Green and blue exercise (physical activity in or adjacent to green space or water) provide a range of additional benefits beyond indoor based exercise, where they can promote recovery, adherence and social interactions. Nature savouring (recalling an episode of recent nature contact) can enable the time cessation effect on mood and cognition to be amplified further. Secondly, from a practitioner perspective walking therapies in natural settings offer another means of nature contact providing a more informal setting for discourse which can open up a window for co-created solutions by the athlete and psychologist. Notably, in 2020, the British Psychological Society (BPS) published guidance to promote safety and effectiveness in outdoor sessions. Thirdly, performance routines offer the potential for nature to be incorporated as a stress regulation strategy in the competition environment. Indeed evidence tentatively suggests that athletic performance may be more readily optimised in environments, not simply without environmental hazards, but in those where the quality of the nature (e.g. biodiversity, natural soundscape) is high. Together these nature-based approaches provide, not simply benefits for health and well-being, but co-benefits in terms of sustainability (e.g. reduced carbon footprint), and potential additional benefits with pro- environmental behaviour and sustainable actions. Athletes have long been advocates for sustainability with sport organisations (e.g. IOC, FIA) following this lead with eco-codes for hosting events. The benefits, co-benefits and additional benefits of nature-based approaches provide synergies between sport and exercise psychology which have yet to be fully realised.
