Introduction
Sports in the modern world are not only a way to relax or have fun with friends. Various types of sports competitions that are organized in cities can significantly affect the social and economic aspects of their functioning. Thus, this scientific paper aims to assess local sports events’ effect on the local community. To do this, the work of Taks et al. (2015) was taken as a basis. “Introduction: Impacts and strategic outcomes from non-mega sports events for local communities.” Using this literary source will help understand the purpose under study better and obtain satisfactory results.
Sport has many advantages that cannot be underestimated. The impact that it has can be identified as a positive contribution to the local community and region. Henceforth, it forms such qualities as perseverance of character, integrity, ambition, and, most importantly, competitiveness. Moreover, sports competitions are a great way of motivating people, as many people go into the sports industry looking at their idols. Thus, more and more various competitions are organized in cities, to which teams from other cities can be invited. The advantage of this aspect is that it contributes to the growth of the economy and tourism industry in the locality.
Society
However, the first factor of the influence of local sports events on the local community is social. Thus, it is possible to introduce development into various spheres of people’s lives through these measures and implement some problems. This factor can lead to confusion, which is associated with an underestimation of the value of sports. Despite this, it is noted that the sports industry can significantly affect the local community (Boonsiritomachai & Phonthanukitithaworn, 2019). This is due to the fact that sports can easily overcome such barriers as social, economic, political, and cultural. For this sphere, it does not matter where a person comes from or what kind of religious or cultural background he has. Therefore, sports events can play the role of a tool for communication in a social context.
Another social factor influencing sports events is the cohesion of people. This happens when athletes work together, where the success of one person directly affects the success of all teams. Moreover, this happens when forming a general spirit of support for the participants of the competition, which creates an atmosphere of pride and appreciation for athleticism. Thus, local competitions can help in rallying the community for further joint work on problems and finding effective ways to complete them.
As noted in the study, which was taken as the basis of this scientific paper, sports events have the opportunity to strengthen social unity. In addition, the emergence of a sense of euphoria, strengthening of national pride, and unity is emphasized (Taks et al., 2015). At the same time, many studies put the most positive results of these events, instilling faith in improving the social well-being of the host region. However, many of the research papers are more frivolous in nature, which limits the number of truly valuable evidence-based studies.
In a study by Taks et al. (2015), in order to achieve the set goals and obtain information about the social effect of local competitions on the local community, the contribution of small and large sporting events was compared. To do this, several opinions were identified, which were further analyzed by the authors: power relations, urban regeneration, socialization, and human capital (Taks et al., 2015). The results of the work showed that, after all, it is global and extensive events for competitions in various sports that are more important for the community and the region than local ones.
On the other hand, smaller competitions can also have a positive effect on the formation of social ties and interactions. To achieve satisfactory results, several essential conditions must be met. The most valuable of them is taking into account the peculiarities and the most vital views and ideas of the residents of the local community. This action is also critical, as it is inherent in this type of event, which makes them unique. Moreover, when studying local sports events, the probability of obtaining more accurate and reliable data is higher, which provides a better assessment of the event.
Another critical aspect of the conduct and organization of sports events are the parties involved and local authorities, who also expect to make a profit at the end of the event. The social effect, in this case, can be determined using an approach based on perception and applied strategies. Thus, the way in which these stakeholders define and control all processes related to local sporting events plays an important role. Strategies for enhancing social impact include managing relationships with organizers, controlling the mobility of the community and participants, and partnering with large local organizations (Taks et al., 2015). In addition, the social consequences of involving volunteer organizations in the region can also contribute to strengthening personal relationships and community cohesion.
Volunteering has an advantage for the community as it is a collective experience and a direct result of social capital (Bang et al., 2019). In addition, the fact that local sports events rely on the local community is highlighted. This workforce has a limited, but at the same time quite diverse, multi-purpose nature. This supports the fact that the high potential for the personal growth of people in the local community where the event is held is much higher compared to more significant sporting events.
Health
Multiple sources have proved that sports competitions have a positive effect on the dynamics of health quality. This is due to the fact that due to training and compliance with the rules of eating habits, many athletes rarely suffer from various diseases and their quality of life, thereby, is much better than that of some members of the community. On the other hand, sport is dangerous to health because it is characterized by the possibility of injury. This can significantly reduce the rate of progress of an athlete and affect joint health in the future. Hence, with an injury, for example, a hand, in adulthood, people may experience discomfort due to the fragility of joints that were damaged in youth.
Therefore, increased physical activity, to a greater extent, has a positive impact on the health indicators of society. Despite periodic injuries or bruises, sport also strengthens the immune system and the human body as a whole. Moreover, it has been proven that sports activities can help cope with psychological problems such as anxiety or depression. Research showed that “lowest depression and lowest anxiety scores were observed for indoor team athletes, followed by individual outdoor athletes” (Siefken et al., 2019, p. 71). The last factor is showing an example and motivating people to participate in this area, which contributes to the organization of more local sports events (Xiao et al., 2020). Children who participate in sports learn about such notions as discipline, leadership, and social skills, which can benefit them in future adult life.
The organization of local sports competitions can have both short-term and long-term consequences. At the same time, in addition to positive effects, negative ones may also occur. In case of unsuccessful competitions or insufficient funding, the local community that organized the event may experience economic disadvantage and a decline in the economy. Such positive and negative consequences for the community can be called legacies. The main factors that can affect the results of the competition may be correct or incorrect strategic planning. However, at the same time, some consequences cannot be predicted in advance since tournament competitions largely depend on the human factor and how the athletes will behave when organizing and executing their plans.
Further, there are differences between the expected results of a sports competition and the legacy. Hence, the first implies the acquisition of economic, political, or environmental goals, while heritage implies the contribution that the event makes to the local community. Despite the relatively thin line between these two concepts, they are of great importance in practice. One of the goals of the heritage is to educate the future generation who will appreciate sports and physical activity and pass this value on to their children.
Economy
Most often, when analyzing the results of local sports events, researchers use methods that can only show positive dynamics. This is due to the fact that, for example, when conducting input/output economic impact analysis (EIA), outputs show the amount of additional money to the region but do not calculate the exact amount of money that was lost to the organization (Oosterhaven et al., 2019). The main factors that should be considered when visualizing the economic impact on the local community are the necessary resources to carry out the event. They also include the expenses allocated for the placement of participants and the initial organization. Thus, smaller-scale sports competitions require significantly fewer resources, which will have a positive impact on the final results of economic analysis.
Significant events, on the contrary, are more likely to have negative consequences for the region. In addition, cooperation with sponsors, sports tourism, advertising and marketing, and the skills of specialists who need to be involved in the process of work become critical aspects in conducting such events. Consequently, it can be stated that the ability of local communities to properly organize and conduct sports events can directly affect the consequences in the economic sphere. This point of view also includes the contribution to the success of the event and the satisfaction of the audience.
Tourism
As mentioned, sports events positively impact the development of sports tourism in the region. Gibson emphasizes that “a growing cause for concern for the future of sport tourism is that many event-focused academics do not recognize the involvement or role of sport tourism in events” (2017, p. 155). The main problem is that local sports events do not attract a large enough audience to get the highest profit from the competitions (Goulas, 2020). Thus, this makes it more limited in relation to global mega-sports events. It should be emphasized that sports tourism can be significantly improved with the help of proper strategic planning and proper advertising and marketing of events. Of course, these measures will not bring the same number of people as larger competitions, but they will definitely attract sports fans and local community members. Moreover, tourism helps to attract funds, which has a positive effect on the economy of the region. In order to achieve the best outcome and build a structured and well-thought-out strategy, it is also necessary to improve the planning of auxiliary activities to obtain the desired results and achieve most of the goals set by the organizers.
Sports Events Case Study
The tourism of sporting events is an excellent opportunity to attract local and international visitors for the development of the economy. In the modern world, sports events have become not only a way of entertainment and development of the sports industry but also a tool for the development of tourism in the region. Active tourism is characterized by the highest growth rates among all types of travel and is becoming increasingly crucial for the local economy. More regions and their local communities are increasing the number of organizations, agencies, and personnel for organizing sports competitions in order to get as much benefit as possible. Regardless of their nature, events related to sports competitions become an attraction for many national and international visitors. By increasing profits in such areas as transport, hotel business, and entertainment, this aspect contributes to improving the state of the region’s economy.
Another advantage of sports tourism may be assistance in the fight against seasonal demand. Thus, during a period of low demand in a specific region, sports events can be arranged that will attract the main flow of tourists to this area. During the high season, provided that the city cannot cope with the flow of people, measures can be taken in the same way to regulate the number of tourists. In addition to influencing the economy, tourism also contributes to the development of such aspects of the functioning of the region as infrastructure. This is due to the fact that the more people visit the city for sports events, the more often roads and public transport systems are updated, and new hotels, cafes, and restaurants are opened. In addition, sports tourism promotes increased community capacity, volunteerism, and improved marketing, creating a permanent and valuable legacy.
Another positive aspect is the creation of a good image of the region by attracting local and nonresident mass media. Thus, the city will receive a greater prevalence, and more people will know about the events that take place in it. To maintain all of the above indicators, it is necessary to ensure stable support and participation from the community. The support of this interested party will play a crucial role in the success of the local sports event.
Marathon in Zhejiang
One of the most common local sports events is a marathon. It is a long-distance race in which anyone can take part. Very often, this sporting event is organized for charitable purposes, to raise money for an organization that helps minorities, the elderly, orphans, or animals. Thus, the marathon can attract both participants and spectators from other regions, which will contribute to the development of tourism. An example of the positive contribution of marathons is Zhejiang, where “152 marathons in 2017 were held, making it the province with the most marathons” (Waite, n.d., para. 6). Hautbois underlined that this event contributes to the improvement of “city image, sports participation, and psychosocial benefits” (2020, p. 335). A reasonably large size always characterizes a local marathon since it captures most of the locality or its surroundings. However, in terms of publicity, the event is considered small at this level. This aspect of attracting the public plays two essential roles in such an event at once. Firstly, it contributes to the formation of short-term and long-term consequences both in terms of legacy and in the case of stakeholders and stakeholders who have invested in it.
Moreover, the marathon can become a less costly and more effective way to attract sports tourism to the region and develop the city’s image. The more people attend the event and leave their positive feedback, the higher the dissemination of information about the city and the involvement of other interested parties will be. Similarly, the authority of the local community increases due to the cohesion of people and the transformation of the city into a preferred point for travel.
Thus, this study concludes that such a sport as a marathon and related events play a crucial role in the development of the local community. Studying the literature on this topic can provide valuable insight into the needs of participants and viewers and how local authorities and organizers can improve their services (Xiao et al., 2020). Xiao et al. also state that “behavioral intention and word-of-mouth communication” have a vital role in this process (2020, p. 104). This is found in direct dependence on the economic, social, or environmental benefits the region wants. In addition, it is possible to adapt existing strategies based on the knowledge gained during the study of literary works.
Running Race in Larissa
The second sport under consideration, in which local competitions can be held, is running race or sprint. In athletics, this activity consists of overcoming a short distance in as short a time as possible. This is one of the most ancient types of sports competitions that were held in the ancient Olympic Games (Gravelle, 2018). Like the marathon, this event can make a significant positive contribution to the development of the region.
Sources emphasize that more and more attention has recently been paid to the development of local sports as a driving force for strengthening the city’s economic condition. For this, many efforts are invested both from the state and from the side of all interested parties and the local community. To achieve maximum advantage, it is essential to implement various social and economic aspects, which implies the formation of a legacy for the development of future generations of people who will appreciate and promote sports activities. Thus, more and more organizations are investing in attracting attention to sports by organizing events such as sprint races. Various investments in this area also increase economic and social capital for local communities. In particular, the advantage of running races is the efficiency and costlessness of their organization.
Further, more and more researchers are focusing their attention on such events and their impact on the life of the local community. The investigated source considered the contribution of sports events organized in the Larissa regional unit to the local economy and community (Goulas, 2020). In addition to the mentioned advantages, this event also increases the growth of sports tourism and develops the economy of the region.
The economic advantages of organizing the sporting events mentioned earlier may be attracting more skilled and unskilled labor. Moreover, there may be candidates who have not been employed before or have worked as volunteers. Among the benefits associated with the marketing of the region is the improvement of the image of the city and the development of positive associations with attractions and the local community. In addition, the level of pride among the residents of the settlement will grow, which will positively affect the increase in people’s involvement in the development of economic, social, and environmental indicators. Such trends will also attract nonresident workers and tourists who are interested in the region. In addition to strengthening the local community, social networks and support towards social causes become social benefits.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this work was engaged in assessing the impact of local sports events on the local community. It can be concluded that the relationship between these indicators is relatively high. This is because, first of all, the provision of heritage acquires exceptional value, manifested in the social contribution to future generations. In addition, sports competitions have economic benefits for all parties involved in the process of their organization. Moreover, the development of local sports events contributes to the improvement and restoration of the image of the city and its community, which also becomes an advantage for success in all areas. The study of this topic gave qualitative insight and a structured understanding of the problem, which is vital for further research on this topic.
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