Sport Involvement Analysis in Hungary, in the North Great Plain Region

Éva Bácsné Bába,Károly Pető,Zoltán Bács,Krisztina Dajnoki,György Szabados,Veronika Fenyves

doi:10.3390/su10051629

Abstract

On a global level, a healthy lifestyle is experienced more where sport and physical activity as a way of life has gained more importance. European Union documents (such as the White Paper on Sport—2007) further stressed the important role of physical activity, and member states have declared the same opinion. Almost all scientific research approaches the topic by measuring the sport-related activity rate and incidence. The findings of Eurobarometer (2014) revealed that 41% of responding European citizens pursue some kinds of sport or do some form of body movement once a week, while 59% rarely or never do. In Hungary, compared to the findings of 2009, activity improved. Still, 44% of Hungarian citizens never undertake any sports activity. Pursuing sport and showing interests in a more active lifestyle are indicators that may truly reflect the social connection between sport and the society itself, and we may apply both terms in the framework of engagement. These terms lead us to the topic of sport related involvement, including social, psychological, and economic dimensions. In a large sample representative survey, carried out among Hungarian people in the North Great plain region, we aimed to reveal the specifications of sport engagement and our empirical findings have proved a very strong connection between sport and the population itself.

Highlights

A healthier lifestyle is being increasingly emphasized on a global scale, especially as special attention is given to increasing the amount of time dedicated to sports and physical activities
“I do sports and I deal with sports beyond that” means that someone is an official sportsmen or pursues sports as a leisure time activity; he/she goes to sports events, or watches sports in TV/reads sports news);
“I am only interested in sports” means, for example, someone goes to sports events as a fan, likes sports betting, collects sports relics, or even means sports voluntariness or sports employment, for example, as a coach;

Summary

Introduction

A healthier lifestyle is being increasingly emphasized on a global scale, especially as special attention is given to increasing the amount of time dedicated to sports and physical activities. Two main strands highlighted of social sustainability were public health and community cohesion” In this brief report, based on numerous references, the authors emphasize that “sports can improve public health benefit, may have an impact on academic achievement, future employability, building skills and confidence, and these effects may last for several decades.”. They concluded that “with the appropriate planning and management, sporting activity can contribute to social inclusion and ensure the widespread access to sporting facilities across communities, including the most deprived communities.” In this brief report, based on numerous references, the authors emphasize that “sports can improve public health benefit, may have an impact on academic achievement, future employability, building skills and confidence, and these effects may last for several decades.” They concluded that “with the appropriate planning and management, sporting activity can contribute to social inclusion and ensure the widespread access to sporting facilities across communities, including the most deprived communities.”

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