Evidence of a Social Legacy from Volunteering at the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

Abstract

Mega-sport events, like Olympic and Paralympic Games, typically promise host communities that beneficial legacies will remain beyond the life of the event; however, there is little postevent research supporting these claims. Conducted 3 years after the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, this research is one of few to explore the social legacy of volunteerism following an Olympic and Paralympic Games. A previously developed anonymous online survey was distributed via the event's 26 volunteer centers. Analysis included principal components analysis and independent samplesttests. The results demonstrate that social legacies can be achieved, albeit at a level lower than may be indicated by surveys conducted at the time of the event. By being strategic in their recruitment and training of volunteers, future mega-sport event organizers may be more effective in achieving social legacies, in sport, events, and tourism, that add to a host community's social and human capitals.