Correlation study between triathlon development and participation

Abstract

Different factors condition sports development and participation. Existing research has shown that an individual's attitude toward sports involvement is mostly influenced by personal factors, although sports participation may also influence sports development. This study proposes to examine whether the Ideal-Type Model of Integrated High Performance and Mass Sports Development (ITM) and the classic model of planned behaviour (TPB) theory reinforces the development of triathlon and the main motives for people to participate in a triathlon. A model based on the traditional ITM and TPB models was presented. Three hundred six valid questionnaires were gathered online in southern China to create the sample. The data were encoded, cleansed, and analysed preliminarily using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). In addition, the suggested model and assumptions were verified and validated using the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) method and Smart PLS 3.0 software. The proposed model presents a statistical validity that proves that 1) talent search and development, advanced athlete support, training centres, competition systems, intellectual services, partnership with supportive agencies, balanced and integrated funding, and mass and elite sport structures positively influence southern China's triathlon development.