A systematic quantitative literature review of empirical research on large-scale sport events’ social legacies

ABSTRACT

The potential to realise social legacies through hosting large-scale sport events has gained saliency in policy and academic contexts over the last decade. However, social legacies, such as enhanced civic pride, social inclusion, civic engagement, and quality of life remain largely under researched. This article presents findings from a systematic quantitative literature review of academic articles which empirically investigated social legacies and were published between 2000 and 2016. Seventy-seven articles were examined to find patterns and gaps in the research. Our findings show 34 social legacy types have been examined empirically. However, empirical research on social legacies comes from a limited number of geographic contexts, and the theories and methods employed to research such legacies are also limited, suggesting opportunities for innovation in future research designs. We highlight a role for leisure studies to contribute to richer understanding of social legacies. We also call for greater intentionality by researchers to consider what constitutes social legacy and more meaningful and unique ways to research social legacies and inform practice.

KEYWORDS:

• Social legacies
• large-scale sport events
• systematic review
• event research
• intangible legacies
• legacy research

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Department of Tourism, Sport and Hotel Management, Griffith University [2017 Commonwealth Games Research Project Scheme].

Notes on contributors

Alana Thomson

Alana Thomson is a Lecturer in Management in the Federation Business School at Federation University. Alana is focused on developing an evidence base to better inform policy and planning for sport and social legacies in host communities.

Millicent Kennelly

Millicent Kennelly is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Tourism, Sport and Hotel Management at Griffith University, researching and teaching about the management of sport events. Her key research interests include understanding the experiences and management of stakeholders of sport events, as well as the impacts sport events have on host communities.

Kristine Toohey

Kristine Toohey is Emeritus Professor of Sport Management in the Department of Tourism, Sport and Hotel Management at Griffith University and a member of its Women in Sport Research Group. She has researched and worked in sport events across five continents over four decades.