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Sustainability in Participatory Sports Events: The Development of a Research Instrument and Empirical Insights

Author

Listed:
  • Ine Hugaerts

    (Policy in Sports & Physical Activity Research Group, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium)

  • Jeroen Scheerder

    (Policy in Sports & Physical Activity Research Group, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
    Flemish Policy Research Centre on Sports, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
    Delta Group on Good Governance in Sport, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium)

  • Kobe Helsen

    (Policy in Sports & Physical Activity Research Group, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium)

  • Joris Corthouts

    (Policy in Sports & Physical Activity Research Group, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
    Flemish Policy Research Centre on Sports, 3001 Leuven, Belgium)

  • Erik Thibaut

    (Policy in Sports & Physical Activity Research Group, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
    Flemish Policy Research Centre on Sports, 3001 Leuven, Belgium)

  • Thomas Könecke

    (Policy in Sports & Physical Activity Research Group, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium)

Abstract

The United Nations (UN) considers sports as an important enabler of sustainable development. The popular and fast-growing Participatory Sports Event (PSE) sector can play an important role in this regard, however, research that measures and reports sustainability in PSEs is scarce. Therefore, the aim of this paper was to construct and validate a research instrument based on the UN’s sustainable development goals, and to examine sustainability in PSEs. To this end, an online survey was administered among a representative sample of 303 PSE organisers, located in Flanders, Belgium. A confirmatory factor analysis affirmed the social, economic and environmental dimensions of the instrument and provided evidence for its validity and reliability. The results reveal significant discrepancies between the three dimensions, with a noticeable lower score for environmental sustainability compared to social and economic sustainability. Furthermore, challenges are highlighted in the field of the civil society sector and in walking sports events. The findings also indicate that large-sized events are more likely to be sustainable. The current study can act as a foundation for future research on sustainability in PSEs and can assist PSE organisers and policymakers to increase the sustainability-related performance of the sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Ine Hugaerts & Jeroen Scheerder & Kobe Helsen & Joris Corthouts & Erik Thibaut & Thomas Könecke, 2021. "Sustainability in Participatory Sports Events: The Development of a Research Instrument and Empirical Insights," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-16, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:11:p:6034-:d:563210
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    1. Thomas Könecke & Holger Schunk & Tabea Schappel & Ine Hugaerts & Fabio Wagner & Ewa Malchrowicz-Mośko, 2021. "German Marathon Runners’ Opinions on and Willingness to Pay for Environmental Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-17, September.
    2. Rebeggiani, Luca & Drewes, Michael & FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management, KompetenzCentrum für (ed.), 2022. "Wettbewerb und Wettbewerbspolitik im Sport: Booklet zur 25. Jahrestagung des Arbeitskreises Sportökonomie," KCV Schriftenreihe, FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management, KCV KompetenzCentrum für angewandte Volkswirtschaftslehre, volume 5, number 5.
    3. Lidia Piccerillo & Francesco Misiti & Simone Digennaro, 2023. "Assessing the Environmental Impact of a University Sport Event: The Case of the 75th Italian National University Championships," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-14, January.

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