Changes in young people at pre-camp sites for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games: focusing on sports life and attitudes toward sports

ABSTRACT

Clarifying the effects of mega sporting events is an important issue. This study was conducted on the residents of pre-camp sites to identify changes in their sports lifestyles and attitudes toward sports before and after the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020). By examining these changes in relation to the hosting of Tokyo 2020, the effects of the mega-sports event were discussed. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey conducted before and after Tokyo 2020. The survey targeted students (elementary, junior high, and high school students) from schools located in the Tokyo 2020 pre-camp sites. The sample size was 3,129 for the pre-survey and 2,299 for the post-survey. A comparison of changes in sports life and attitudes toward sports before and after Tokyo 2020 did not reveal consistent changes in these survey items. However, positive changes were observed in some of the items related to sports spectating, sports volunteering, and attitudes toward sports after Tokyo 2020. These results suggest that mega-sporting events held in the social context of the coronavirus pandemic influence sports promotion, and may contribute to the promotion of sports spectating and sports volunteering, and the formation of positive attitudes toward sports. Previous studies on mega-sporting events have focused on the economic effects and regional benefits. In contrast, this study suggests that the holding of mega-sporting events may also contribute to sports promotion. However, this study could not identify the factors and mechanisms that cause the event holding effect. More research is needed to verify the effects of mega-sports events in the future.