Tokyo 2020 and diversity attitudes of young residents: A latent change score analysis of effects of event identification

Abstract

This research applies social identity and self-categorization theories to investigate how changes in social identification with a mega-event are associated with changes in residents' universal-diverse orientation, a measure of attitudes toward diversity. Panel survey data from 581 young adult residents of Tokyo before and after the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games were analyzed via latent change score modeling. Results indicate that these residents experienced a greater increase in universal-diverse orientation if they increased their identification with the Games to a greater degree, and this relationship was mediated by changes in their perceptions of how the event represented diversity-related values. Our findings underscore the importance of strengthening residents' social identification to expand the capacity of mega-events for diversity promotion.