The Impact of Water Sporting Events on Attitudes Toward Physical Activity: Motivational Profiles of Participants in Modern and Traditional Water Events

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to analyze the relationship between attitudes toward physical activity and participation in water sports events and to recognize the main motives for involvement in these kinds of events. A written paper–pencil diagnostic survey was conducted among 394 participants in two traditional and two modern sports events on water held in Poland to ascertain whether innovative (modern) events are needed in society, and whether they cause an increase in interest in physical activity (more than traditional events). The research results showed that modern sports events on water did not have any more power to attract physically inactive people than traditional water events, did not produce a greater desire to lead an active lifestyle, and did not encourage people to more regularly practice water sports. Moreover, modern events, compared to traditional events, were only a one-time experience and the people who completed survey often wanted to return to traditional sports events which provided participants with greater positive emotions than a modern event. In the case of socio-demographical variables, there was no statistically significant relationship between gender and choice of modern or traditional event, but older people were more likely to choose a traditional event than younger people; modern water events were an attractive option primarily for young people under 30 years of age, furthermore, modern events more often attracted people who had completed higher education. However, it turned out that a modern event on water often attracted more people who had had no experience in this sport discipline rather than people who chose traditional water events. In a sense, modern events are therefore effective in promoting water sports in Polish society. We also distinguished five main groups of participants: healthy lifestyle managers, lovers of sports emotions, water sports malcontents, water sports enthusiasts, and neutrals to water sports. Additionally, we looked into gender-related motives for participation in modern and traditional water events: social and health-related motives proved to be more important for women and men who participated in modern water events. The research results presented in the article expand on the current state of knowledge about mass participation in sport, the impact of sporting events on the promotion of physical activity, and show the motivation behind participation in modern and traditional water sporting events.

Effects of engaging in mass participation sporting events on physical activity behaviour,: a systematic review

“…Therefore, the studies that reported sustained increased in physical activity provide promising evidence. Notably strong intentions for future activity were reported across the study samples (Calogiuri et al, 2019;Malchrowicz-Mosko, Castaneda-Babarro, et al, 2020;Malchrowicz-Mośko, León-Guereño, et al, 2020;McVinnie, 2019a;Mlodzik et al, 2021;Poczta et al, 2021;White et al, 2016) and several intervention approaches have been investigated…”

“…Among the cross-sectional studies, there was a rise in the proportion of physically inactive participants of Sports Day in Canada intending to engage in sport over four successive years (increasing from 35 to 40%) (White et al, 2016) and 27% of parents believed their children would be more active after a triathlon (Caperchione et al, 2021). High ratings were recorded for future motivation to be active in studies involving running (Malchrowicz-Mosko, Castaneda-Barbarro, et al, 2020;Malchrowicz-Mośko, León-Guereño, et al, 2020;Poczta et al, 2021) and canoe (Mlodzik et al, 2021) events. A high number (74%) of first time marathon runners intended to run another marathon within a year (Loughren, 2009) and exercise goals were ranked as one of the most important outcomes of the Birkebeiner ski race (Calogiuri et al, 2019).…”