Launching off but falling fast: experiences of becoming more physically active in response to the vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games

• Autores: Luke R. Potwarka , Halyna Tepylo, Darla Fortune, Heather Mair
• Localización: Event management, ISSN 1525-9951, Vol. 20, No. 3, 2016, págs. 297-312
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Using a qualitative approach, we sought insights into the nature of the relationship between a megasport event and increased activity levels in a sample of young adults living within a host nation. To achieve this purpose, we conducted semistructured interviews with current (and recently graduated) university students living in Canada who indicated becoming more active as a result of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Through our thematic analysis, we identified three interrelated and overarching themes: connecting throught engaged viewership; harnessing the connection; and launching off but falling fast. Connecting throught engaged viewership refers to personal and meaningful connections participants made with the Olympic athletes they watched. The act of watching elite athletes compete appeared to inspire participants to make positive activity-related changes in their own lives. harnessing the connection refers to supportive social and built environments, as well as access to particular resources that enabled participants to act on their inspired state. Launching off but falling gast refers to the intense, but fleeting, nature of changes to participants' activity levels. We conclude the article by discussing the significance of our finding in terms of research and practice.