The professional sports events industry is becoming immensely popular due to a global social shift toward larger numbers of spectators at sports events and an ever-increasing variety of such events. This study aimed to investigate the impact of spectators’ perception of corporate social responsibility on regional attachment by applying social identity theory. The present study introduces two mediators, namely, spectators’ pride and team identification, to enlighten the relationship between spectators’ perception of corporate social responsibility and regional attachment, thus contributing to the literature on corporate social responsibility in sports. This quantitative study used a time-lagged approach to collect data in three waves at a time interval of one week and the final sample consisted of 511 respondents (i.e., spectators). Hierarchical regression analysis bootstrapping approach was utilized to analyze the hypothesis. We found that the spectators’ perceptions of corporate social responsibility positively influenced their team identification, and this relationship was mediated by spectators’ pride. In addition, spectators’ pride positively influences regional attachment, and this relationship is mediated by team identification. These findings provide new directions for understanding corporate social responsibility, team identification, spectators’ pride, and regional attachment in sports contexts. The practical and theoretical implications are discussed.

Purpose Conceptual physical education (CPE) classes have been widely offered to promote a healthy lifestyle in higher education settings. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of a CPE course on health-related fitness (HRF) levels among college freshmen. Design/methodology/approach A pre- and post-test research design was used. In total, 50 freshmen in a US university were enrolled in a 13-week CPE course. Their HRF levels were assessed by the Fitnessgram at the beginning and the end of the course. Findings Students significantly enhanced their aerobic capacity, upper-body muscle strength and endurance, abdominal muscle strength and endurance, and decreased body fat percentage. No significant improvement in flexibility was found among the total sample. However, non-kinesiology students significantly enhanced their flexibility while the opposite trend was found among kinesiology students. Female students reduced more body fat percentage, while male students increased their aerobic capacity more rapidly than their female counterparts. Practical implications The CPE course could yield significant improvement in HRF among freshmen, regardless of sex or major. Universities may consider offering CPE courses for all students and mandate such courses as a degree requirement. Originality/value This empirical study investigated HRF level changes that occurred after a CPE course intervention among college freshmen. Sex and major difference in HRF changes were revealed. The interventions included in the CPE course could help improve freshmen's HRF levels in future intervention programs in a similar setting.

The purpose of this study was to understand the impact of lower-extremity strength on the shoulder tackle ability of Chinese elite female rugby players. The impact strength of a tackle and the lower-extremity strength were measured by force sensors and an isokinetic strength tester. The results provide a theoretical reference for the specialized strength training of shoulder tackle techniques, relevant technical learning, and sports injury prevention, as well as for improving the defensive ability of shoulder tackles. The lower-extremity isokinetic strengths of the hip, knee, and ankle and the shoulder tackle impact force of 18 Chinese elite female rugby players were measured at fixed angular velocities of 60 and 180°/s by an IsoMed 2000 strength testing instrument and an impact force tester. SPSS 25 software was used to test for a normal distribution by single-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K-S) and independent-sample t-tests and the Pearson correlation test. The following findings were obtained. (1) The bilateral lowerextremity hip, knee, and ankle flexors and extensors had an extremely significant difference (P < 0.01) at fixed angular velocities of 60 and 180°/s, and the test results of the extensors were greater than those of the flexors. (2) The right knee and left ankle extensors of the lowerextremity isokinetic strength were related to the shoulder tackle impact force. On the basis of these findings, it is suggested that (1) the lower-extremity isokinetic strengths of the front knee and back ankle in dominant-side tackles should be used as indexes to evaluate shoulder tackle ability, and (2) the balanced development of lower-extremity strength can help athletes enhance the defensive capacity of shoulder tackles, promote technical learning, improve the stability of actions, and prevent sports injuries.* Significantly correlated at a 95% confidence interval (two-tailed test).

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Based on probing R&D into the regression model, this paper empirical analyzes the indigenous R&D investment on economic growth and the neighboring provinces R&D spillovers by using the 30 Chinese provincial panel data from 2000 to 2007.The research proves that whether the whole sample or the regional sample, indigenous R&D is playing an important role in regional economic growth, but in different regional the growth effect of R&D is very different. Spillover effects from neighboring provinces R&D investment also have positive impact on the economic growth in this area, the size of spillover effects differs in different regions.

The contribution of sport organizations to solving social issues has been acknowledged. However, little is known about how sport organizations can turn social issues into business opportunities as a means of creating shared value (CSV). Building on selfconcept theory, a framework was established to examine how sport organizations can promote sport participation and simultaneously drive sport consumption-as a means of CSV-by enhancing consumers' sport self-concept. Methods: A total of 311 participants recruited from a CSV program delivered by a sport organization completed a time-lagged survey. Structural equation modeling was performed with Mplus 8.3 to test the framework. Results:The results revealed that consumers' sport self-concept was enhanced by their perceptions of sincere interest from employees of the sport organization, while effect of their perceptions of praising was insignificant. Sport self-concept has a positive association with their levels of sport participation and simultaneously influences their intention to purchase the sport organization's products due to self-congruity. Discussion: This study contributes to CSV literature by demonstrating the role of sport self-concept in CSV in a sport setting. Our findings suggest that sport organizations might focus on strengthening consumers' sport self-concept to create both social and economic value through their CSV.