Host Communities, Event Leveraging, And Participatory Sport Events

Abstract

This article examines participatory sport event (PSE) organizers' perceptions of, and interactions with, the communities in which they host events. Internationally, PSEs are burgeoning in popularity and may be strategically leveraged to promote positive economic and social development in host locations. Yet little is known about who organizes such events, or how PSE organizers approach their interactions with event hosting communities. Further, it remains unclear if/how PSE organizers may contribute to broader strategic event leveraging activities. Twenty-two in-depth interviews were conducted with PSE organizers in the UK. The results indicate all interviewees value effective relationships with host community stakeholders, although those organizing events for-profit tended to regard stakeholder interaction in highly instrumental terms. Many organizers viewed the production of beneficial outcomes from their events as integral to ensuring community support. While organizers expressed a sense of responsibility to "do the right thing" when interacting with stakeholders, it was those who organized events in the location where they lived who exhibited greatest concern for production of benefits in the host community. This research has implications for smaller cities/locations seeking to build sustainable event portfolios as a strategy for economic or social development and may help guide decisions around which events are selected and why.