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Although research traction is increasing, intangible social impacts are still difficult to measure and relatively under-researched compared to their tangible economic counterparts. Thus, the current study examines the question: what were the associations between hosting the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, social wellbeing (i.e. sense of belonging), and subjective wellbeing (i.e. life satisfaction) among Canadian youth? Using data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (n > 1,000,000), a time series analysis of youths’ (aged 12–19) reports of perceived sense of belonging to their community and perceived life satisfaction across four time points before and after the Vancouver Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games at the national, provincial, and regional levels was conducted. The number of youths who reported a strong sense of belonging to their community significantly increased in the host region of North Shore after the Games concluded (2011–2012 to 2013–2014). The number of youths who reported a strong sense of belonging to their community and high life satisfaction significantly increased from 2007–2008 (pre-event) to 2009–2010 in the host region of Richmond. This study provides preliminary evidence that mega-sport events might positively affect wellbeing of youth living in regions that house venues for the event. The study also demonstrates the temporary nature of positive social impacts. Suggestions for how to help create situations where positive social impacts are more likely, and to help maintain the wellbeing benefits of mega-sport events for youth populations are offered.
Georgia Teare; Luke R. Potwarka; Jordan T. Bakhsh; Simon J. Barrick; Andrew T. Kaczynski. Hosting the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games and wellbeing among Canadian youth. European Sport Management Quarterly 2021, 1 -22.
AMA StyleGeorgia Teare, Luke R. Potwarka, Jordan T. Bakhsh, Simon J. Barrick, Andrew T. Kaczynski. Hosting the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games and wellbeing among Canadian youth. European Sport Management Quarterly. 2021; ():1-22.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGeorgia Teare; Luke R. Potwarka; Jordan T. Bakhsh; Simon J. Barrick; Andrew T. Kaczynski. 2021. "Hosting the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games and wellbeing among Canadian youth." European Sport Management Quarterly , no. : 1-22.
Can evidence of trickle-down-effects be observed among youth living in the hometowns of Canadian athletes that competed and/or won medals at the London 2012 Olympic Games? Leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) rates of male and female youth were extracted from the Canadian Community Health Survey (n > 1,000,000) for 110 health regions during the pre-Olympic (2009/2010), Olympic (2011/2012), and post-Olympic (2013/2014) year periods. The health regions were treated as panel units and, beyond Canadian athletes and medallists, the panel data analysis incorporated population size and previous Olympic hosting as control variables in the model. The panel analysis revealed that the number of Canadian athletes representing youths’ hometowns at the London 2012 Olympic Games was negatively associated with LTPA rates when considering the full sample of youth, and male youth in particular. Interestingly however, winning medals (of any colour) was positively associated with hometown LTPA rates among the full sample of youth and male youth. Hometown population size was negatively associated with LTPA rates for the full sample of youth and female youth specifically. Winning a gold medal and hosting previous Olympic/Paralympic Games were not significantly associated with hometown LTPA rates when considering the full sample of youth or male and female youth separately. Our study demonstrates a need for researchers and sport managers to consider the spatial reach and scope of trickle-down-effects beyond that which can occur within a host nation. These effects have the potential to be a global phenomenon.
Luke Potwarka; Girish Ramchandani; Pablo Castellanos-García; Themistocles Kokolakakis; Georgia Teare; Kai Jiang. Beyond the host nation: an investigation of trickle-down effects in the ‘Hometowns’ of Canadian athletes who competed at the London 2012 Olympic Games. European Sport Management Quarterly 2021, 1 -20.
AMA StyleLuke Potwarka, Girish Ramchandani, Pablo Castellanos-García, Themistocles Kokolakakis, Georgia Teare, Kai Jiang. Beyond the host nation: an investigation of trickle-down effects in the ‘Hometowns’ of Canadian athletes who competed at the London 2012 Olympic Games. European Sport Management Quarterly. 2021; ():1-20.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuke Potwarka; Girish Ramchandani; Pablo Castellanos-García; Themistocles Kokolakakis; Georgia Teare; Kai Jiang. 2021. "Beyond the host nation: an investigation of trickle-down effects in the ‘Hometowns’ of Canadian athletes who competed at the London 2012 Olympic Games." European Sport Management Quarterly , no. : 1-20.
The present study investigated the role of family travel and perceived family functioning (i.e., cohesion and adaptability) on changes in Chinese adolescents’ subjective wellbeing (i.e., global life satisfaction, positive affect, negative affect). A pre and post-holiday repeated measures research design was employed. Middle school adolescents aged 12–15 years old from Mainland China (n = 675) were surveyed before and after the 2016 Labor holiday. Our results suggested that adolescent travelers experienced a significant increase in subjective wellbeing (SWB) from before to after the holiday. Additionally, travelers had significantly higher post-holiday SWB than adolescents who did not travel with their family during the holiday. Moreover, results of hierarchical regression analyses suggested that perceived family cohesion significantly influenced changes to adolescents’ SWB from before to after the holiday; and travel moderated the relationship between perceived family cohesion and changes in negative affect. Implications of this study, limitations, and recommendations for future research are discussed.
Mingjie Gao; Luke Potwarka. Investigating the role of family travel and family functioning in promoting Chinese adolescents’ subjective wellbeing. Journal of Leisure Research 2021, 1 -21.
AMA StyleMingjie Gao, Luke Potwarka. Investigating the role of family travel and family functioning in promoting Chinese adolescents’ subjective wellbeing. Journal of Leisure Research. 2021; ():1-21.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMingjie Gao; Luke Potwarka. 2021. "Investigating the role of family travel and family functioning in promoting Chinese adolescents’ subjective wellbeing." Journal of Leisure Research , no. : 1-21.
Policy makers often legitimize bids for major sport events and public funding of elite sports by trickle-down effects, suggesting that hosting events, sporting success, and athlete role models inspire the population to participate themselves in sport and physical activity. According to previous review articles, empirical evidence of trickle-down effects are mixed, with several studies citing marginal or no effect. The purpose of this study is to apply a realist synthesis approach to evaluate under which conditions trickle-down effects occur (i.e., what works for whom under which circumstances?). Using rapid evidence assessment methodology, 58 empirical articles were identified in the search process and critically analyzed through the lens of realist synthesis evaluation. The analysis identified six conditions under which trickle-down effects have occurred: Event leveraging initiatives, capacity of community sport to cater for new participants, live spectating experiences, consumption possibilities on television or other media, and communities housing event venues. The findings have implications for the sustainability of sport policy decisions and public finance, as the likelihood of trickle-down effects increases with integrated planning and sustainable spending related to the above six conditions.
Luke Potwarka; Pamela Wicker. Conditions under Which Trickle-Down Effects Occur: A Realist Synthesis Approach. Sustainability 2020, 13, 69 .
AMA StyleLuke Potwarka, Pamela Wicker. Conditions under Which Trickle-Down Effects Occur: A Realist Synthesis Approach. Sustainability. 2020; 13 (1):69.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuke Potwarka; Pamela Wicker. 2020. "Conditions under Which Trickle-Down Effects Occur: A Realist Synthesis Approach." Sustainability 13, no. 1: 69.
Participation in sport has been lauded for the myriad benefits provided to youth who engage. Similarly, attendance in school has been identified as a salient contributor to academic success. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to explore the extent to which participation in youth representative (“rep”) hockey in Ontario contributes to avoidable absences from traditional school contexts. Specifically, empirical data from 104 youth rep hockey tournaments, ranging from AE-AAA competitive levels, and the Tyke (7-year-olds) to Midget (17-year-olds) age ranks, were utilized to meet the study’s first purpose. The second purpose was to present an alternative and innovative way youth sport tournaments could be scheduled to minimize school absenteeism. The results of the current investigation show there is merit to the proposed shift in tournament scheduling. Specifically, more than 42,000 avoidable school absences, from the 104 tournaments sampled, could be mitigated with a simple adjustment to tournament schedules.
Chris Chard; Daniel Wigfield; Luke Potwarka. Innovating Youth Tournament Schedules to Minimize School Absenteeism. Sports Innovation Journal 2020, 1, 1 -17.
AMA StyleChris Chard, Daniel Wigfield, Luke Potwarka. Innovating Youth Tournament Schedules to Minimize School Absenteeism. Sports Innovation Journal. 2020; 1 ():1-17.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChris Chard; Daniel Wigfield; Luke Potwarka. 2020. "Innovating Youth Tournament Schedules to Minimize School Absenteeism." Sports Innovation Journal 1, no. : 1-17.
The purpose of this study was to explore relationships between intentions to try a sport after watching an elite sport event and post-event participation, and explore the role exposure to a post-event leveraging initiative plays in facilitating behavior. A field experiment design was employed to test the efficacy of the leveraging initiative among experimental and control condition groups. Data were collected through a questionnaire following an international track cycling competition from spectators (N = 338) who had no prior experience participating in the sport, and then were matched with participation data collected directly from the sport facility. Results demonstrate that post-event intentions were a significant positive predictor of participation. Results also demonstrate that exposure to a leveraging initiative can increase participation in a new sport. Notably, the voucher stimulated participation for spectators with both low intentions and high intentions to participate post-event. Results provide support for the use of leveraging tactics as a means of stimulating sport participation in the context of hosting novel sport events.
Luke R. Potwarka; Ryan Snelgrove; David Drewery; Jordan Bakhsh; Laura Wood. From intention to participation: Exploring the moderating role of a voucher-based event leveraging initiative. Sport Management Review 2019, 23, 302 -314.
AMA StyleLuke R. Potwarka, Ryan Snelgrove, David Drewery, Jordan Bakhsh, Laura Wood. From intention to participation: Exploring the moderating role of a voucher-based event leveraging initiative. Sport Management Review. 2019; 23 (2):302-314.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuke R. Potwarka; Ryan Snelgrove; David Drewery; Jordan Bakhsh; Laura Wood. 2019. "From intention to participation: Exploring the moderating role of a voucher-based event leveraging initiative." Sport Management Review 23, no. 2: 302-314.
Mingjie Gao; Mark E. Havitz; Luke R. Potwarka. Exploring the Influence of Family Holiday Travel on the Subjective Well-being of Chinese Adolescents. Journal of China Tourism Research 2018, 16, 45 -61.
AMA StyleMingjie Gao, Mark E. Havitz, Luke R. Potwarka. Exploring the Influence of Family Holiday Travel on the Subjective Well-being of Chinese Adolescents. Journal of China Tourism Research. 2018; 16 (1):45-61.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMingjie Gao; Mark E. Havitz; Luke R. Potwarka. 2018. "Exploring the Influence of Family Holiday Travel on the Subjective Well-being of Chinese Adolescents." Journal of China Tourism Research 16, no. 1: 45-61.
The purpose of this study was to identify cognitive and affective mechanisms by which the experience of live sport spectating might inspire new sport participation. A conceptual model of demonstration effects that explored relationships among cognitive dimensions of spectators' consumptive experiences (i.e., fantasy, flow, evaluation, aesthetics and physical attractiveness), an affective state of inspiration, and intention to try a sport on display was tested. Data were collected from spectators attending 2015 Pan Am Games track cycling competitions through a written questionnaire. Cognitive dimensions were all positively related to feelings of being inspired while watching the event. Feelings of being inspired while watching the event, in turn, had a positive effect on intention to try the sport of track cycling. An affective state of inspiration also mediated relationships between each cognitive dimension of sport event performance consumption and intention. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Luke R. Potwarka; David Drewery; Ryan Snelgrove; Mark E. Havitz; Heather Mair. Modeling a Demonstration Effect: The Case of Spectators' Experiences at 2015 Pan Am Games' Track Cycling Competitions. Leisure Sciences 2017, 40, 578 -600.
AMA StyleLuke R. Potwarka, David Drewery, Ryan Snelgrove, Mark E. Havitz, Heather Mair. Modeling a Demonstration Effect: The Case of Spectators' Experiences at 2015 Pan Am Games' Track Cycling Competitions. Leisure Sciences. 2017; 40 (6):578-600.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuke R. Potwarka; David Drewery; Ryan Snelgrove; Mark E. Havitz; Heather Mair. 2017. "Modeling a Demonstration Effect: The Case of Spectators' Experiences at 2015 Pan Am Games' Track Cycling Competitions." Leisure Sciences 40, no. 6: 578-600.
This research was developed to answer two questions: (1) What is the relationship between producer bias and the way public recreation services are produced? (2) What is the relationship between people’s preferences for a particular model of service production (i.e., producer biases) and how people think of themselves as participants in their communities (i.e., citizenship orientations)? Data were gathered from 302 recreation participants at three community centers in Southwestern Ontario. The centers represented three distinct production models. Producer biases were universally related to the production mode experienced by respondents in this study (p < .05). As well, political and social citizenship were positively associated with both coproduction and direct provision producer biases. Civil citizenship was positively associated with contractual model producer biases. Method of recreation service production, bias in favor of production modes to which participants are exposed, and citizenship orientations appear inextricably linked.
Luke R. Potwarka; Mark E. Havitz; Troy D. Glover. Relationships among producer exposure, producer bias, and citizenship orientations in the context of public recreation service delivery. Loisir et Société / Society and Leisure 2015, 38, 166 -183.
AMA StyleLuke R. Potwarka, Mark E. Havitz, Troy D. Glover. Relationships among producer exposure, producer bias, and citizenship orientations in the context of public recreation service delivery. Loisir et Société / Society and Leisure. 2015; 38 (2):166-183.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuke R. Potwarka; Mark E. Havitz; Troy D. Glover. 2015. "Relationships among producer exposure, producer bias, and citizenship orientations in the context of public recreation service delivery." Loisir et Société / Society and Leisure 38, no. 2: 166-183.
Parks are valuable resources for physical activity (PA) given their widespread availability and low cost to maintain and use. Both proximity to parks and the availability of particular features are important correlates of PA. However, few studies have explored multiple measures of proximity simultaneously or the specific facilities associated with park use and park-based PA among adults, let alone differences across socio-demographic characteristics. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between park proximity and park facilities and adults’ park use and park-based PA, while also exploring differences by gender, age, race, and income. Data on monthly park use and weekly amount of PA undertaken in parks were collected via a mail survey of adults from randomly-selected households (n = 893) in Kansas City, Missouri (KCMO) in 2010–2011. Three measures of park proximity were calculated within 1 mile of participating households: distance to the closest park, number of parks, and total park area. All parks in KCMO were audited using the Community Park Audit Tool to determine the availability of 14 park facilities within 1 mile of each participant (e.g., trail, playground, tennis court). Multilevel logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between each of park use and park-based PA and 1) three measures of park proximity, and 2) the availability of 14 park facilities within 1 mile of participants. Separate analyses were conducted by gender, age, race, and income, while controlling for all socio-demographic characteristics and BMI. Across all sub-samples, distance to the closest park was not significantly related to either park use or park-based PA. However, numerous significant associations were found for the relationship of number of parks and amount of park space within 1 mile with both outcomes. As well, diverse facilities were associated with park use and park-based PA. For both park proximity and facilities, the significant relationships varied widely across gender, age, race, and income groups. Both park proximity and park facilities are related to park use and park-based PA. Understanding how such associations vary across demographic groups is important in planning for activity-friendly parks that are responsive to the needs of neighborhood residents.
Andrew T Kaczynski; Gina M Besenyi; Sonja A Wilhelm Stanis; Mohammad Javad Koohsari; Katherine B Oestman; Ryan D Bergstrom; Luke R Potwarka; Rodrigo Siqueira Reis. Are park proximity and park features related to park use and park-based physical activity among adults? Variations by multiple socio-demographic characteristics. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2014, 11, 1 -14.
AMA StyleAndrew T Kaczynski, Gina M Besenyi, Sonja A Wilhelm Stanis, Mohammad Javad Koohsari, Katherine B Oestman, Ryan D Bergstrom, Luke R Potwarka, Rodrigo Siqueira Reis. Are park proximity and park features related to park use and park-based physical activity among adults? Variations by multiple socio-demographic characteristics. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 2014; 11 (1):1-14.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAndrew T Kaczynski; Gina M Besenyi; Sonja A Wilhelm Stanis; Mohammad Javad Koohsari; Katherine B Oestman; Ryan D Bergstrom; Luke R Potwarka; Rodrigo Siqueira Reis. 2014. "Are park proximity and park features related to park use and park-based physical activity among adults? Variations by multiple socio-demographic characteristics." International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 11, no. 1: 1-14.
Using nationally representative data from the Canadian Community Health Survey, we explored if the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics were associated with leisure-time physical activity rates among youth in Canada. No statistically significant changes were observed in the rate of moderately active/active youth in Canada or the province of British Columbia (BC) over the two-year time periods under investigation. At the regional level however, a significant increase in the rate of moderately active/active females from 2007–2008 (pre-event) to 2009–2010 (the year prior to the event and the year the event was staged) was observed in the Richmond, BC, health region (z = 2.05, p = .04). Previous conclusions that trickle-down effects do not occur are not supported by our data. Instead, we conclude that trickle-down effects may in fact occur, but may tend to be localised within certain communities (i.e. close to where Olympic events are staged) and among particular segments of a population.
Luke R. Potwarka; Scott T. Leatherdale. The Vancouver 2010 Olympics and leisure-time physical activity rates among youth in Canada: any evidence of a trickle-down effect? Leisure Studies 2014, 35, 241 -257.
AMA StyleLuke R. Potwarka, Scott T. Leatherdale. The Vancouver 2010 Olympics and leisure-time physical activity rates among youth in Canada: any evidence of a trickle-down effect? Leisure Studies. 2014; 35 (2):241-257.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuke R. Potwarka; Scott T. Leatherdale. 2014. "The Vancouver 2010 Olympics and leisure-time physical activity rates among youth in Canada: any evidence of a trickle-down effect?" Leisure Studies 35, no. 2: 241-257.
Media coverage and related viewership can be critical to the financial success of many sport and tourism events. It is not surprising, then, that many event organizers seek to improve the appeal and television viewership ratings associated with their respective properties. Moreover, insights into the nature of people’s decisions to watch the Olympics on television might be relevant to marketers hoping to simulate postevent tourism. This study focuses on understanding viewership decisions surrounding the Olympic Games using the theory of planned behavior as a conceptual framework. Consistent with the theory, it was hypothesized that attitude toward the behavior, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control would explain respondents’ intention to watch the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games on television. Results suggest that watching the Games on television was associated with: (a) a belief that important others would perform the behavior (i.e., descriptive norms); (b) previous viewing of the Games’ televised coverage (i.e., past behavior); (c) a favorable evaluation of performing the behavior (i.e., attitude toward the behavior); and (d) a perceived ease of performing the behavior (i.e., perceived behavioral control). Respondents did not appear to perceive their viewership in ways that might be desirable to hospitality or tourism organizations. Implications for event stakeholders and hospitality/destination marketers are discussed.
Luke R. Potwarka; Robin Nunkoo; Ron E. McCarville. Understanding Television Viewership of a Mega Event: The Case of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management 2014, 23, 536 -563.
AMA StyleLuke R. Potwarka, Robin Nunkoo, Ron E. McCarville. Understanding Television Viewership of a Mega Event: The Case of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management. 2014; 23 (5):536-563.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuke R. Potwarka; Robin Nunkoo; Ron E. McCarville. 2014. "Understanding Television Viewership of a Mega Event: The Case of the 2010 Winter Olympics." Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management 23, no. 5: 536-563.
Refers to attendance at live sporting events, that is, being physically present in stadia or other activity-supporting venues. Attending live sporting events can be conceptualized as social experiences, which contribute positively to the health and well-being of individuals (Wann, Martin, Grieve, & Gardner, 2008). “When social life becomes highly controlled and organized, people may become stuck in everyday routines to the point that we become emotionally constrained. This leads to a search for activities that offer tension-excitement and emotional arousal” (Coakley & Donnelly, 2009, p. 336). For many, sport satisfies this quest for excitement, and it is often used as a means to escape daily troubles and routines (Wann, 1995). Indeed, the excitement of witnessing a favored team defeat a despised rival has been found to be associated with enjoyment and positive affect (Raney, 2003). These positive outcomes support the notion that regular sport ev ...
Luke Potwarka. Sporting Event Attendance. Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research 2014, 6304 -6305.
AMA StyleLuke Potwarka. Sporting Event Attendance. Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research. 2014; ():6304-6305.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuke Potwarka. 2014. "Sporting Event Attendance." Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research , no. : 6304-6305.