The current research investigates pricing practices and consumer behavior in long-distance running events. Two studies address (1) current practices in pricing and registration policies for long-distance running events, and (2) factors that influence the decision-making process by which event organizers develop, adopt, and implement particular pricing policies. Study One involves a descriptive census of policies currently in use for a comprehensive list of running events in the United States that include races at the full or half marathon distance. Study Two adopts a multi-case study approach based on semi-structured interviews of running event organizers, supplemented by additional organizational documents, to investigate the pricing and registration policy development process. Collectively, these two studies examine the what, the why, and the how of pricing policy development in long-distance running events. Based on study findings, a conceptual model was developed incorporating major sources of influence (organizational, consumer, environmental, and event) on the pricing policy development process. This research contributes to sport management by providing deeper understanding of how participant sport, specifically long-distance running events, is priced and how pricing decisions influence consumer behaviors. Results additionally provide practical insight for running event organizers seeking to improve or enhance pricing policies and revenue management by understanding both common and atypical practices in use throughout the running event industry. Finally the current research lays a foundation for a stream of future research building on findings from two studies and data generated in the process of addressing the overarching research questions. / Tourism and Sport

In this study, the authors researched how destinations are affected by sport events such as Swedish premier division soccer matches from a tourism perspective. Representatives from Norrköping, Halmstad, Falkenberg, Åtvidaberg and Kalmar shared information through interviews which along with previous research and theories contributed to the results of this study. The authors have used three theories in this research, Leiper’s tourist attraction system, stakeholder’s theory and the schema theory. Five of the interviews that was conducted for this research was performed at the respondent's workplace while the remaining two were conducted by telephone. All the interviews were recorded and transcribed. Among other things, it has emerged that sport events like Swedish premier division soccer games can be seen as a tourist attraction. It has also emerged that there are two groups of effects that this kind of attraction can generate. One of those is the marketing effect which includes the destination's Swedish premier division soccer team and its matches helps to put the destination on the map, but also to create a positive image of the destination. The second effect is about consumption associated with sport events such as Swedish premier division games, including traveling soccer fans that generate benefits for the local community and therefore contribute to its economic development. With the support of previous research and theories, it has emerged that effort to increase marketing impact, for example, visibility, service and create reasons to travel can generate an increased consumption. The marketing effects can influence current and potential visitor's view of the destination, which is considered to be able to change the stakeholders' behavior. Finally, there are signs that it is very important that there is good cooperation between local actors to boost the various effects that sport events such as Swedish premier division soccer matches can generate. / I den här uppsatsen har skribenterna undersökt hur destinationer påverkas av sportevenemang likt allsvenska fotbollsmatcher ur ett turistiskt perspektiv. Representanter från Norrköping, Halmstad, Falkenberg, Åtvidaberg samt Kalmar bidrog med information som gavs via intervjuer som tillsammans med tidigare forskning och teorier bidragit till uppsatsens resultat. De teorier som författarna använde i denna uppsats är Leipers turistattraktionssystem, Intressentteorin samt schema teorin. Fem av intervjuerna genomfördes på respondenternas arbetsplats medan de resterande två genomfördes per telefon. Samtliga intervjuer spelades in samt transkriberades. Bland annat har det framkommit att sportevenemang såsom allsvenska matcher kan ses som en turistattraktion. Det har även framkommit att det finns två grupper av effekter som denna attraktion genererar. En av dessa handlar om marknadsföringseffekten som bland annat innebär att sportevenemang och dess arrangörer exempelvis destinationens allsvenska fotbollslag och dess matcher bidrar till att sätta destinationen på kartan, men också till att skapa en positivare bild av destinationen. Den andra effekten handlar om konsumtion i samband med sportevenemang såsom allsvenska matcher, exempelvis från de tillresta fotbollsfansen något som kan gynna det lokala samhället på destinationen och bidra till dess ekonomiska utveckling. Med stöd av tidigare forskning och teorier så har det framkommit att arbetet med att öka marknadsföringseffekterna exempelvis genom synlighet, service samt skapa reseanledningar kan generera ökade konsumtionseffekter. Tillexempel genom att marknadsföringseffekterna kan påverka nuvarande och potentiella besökares syn på destinationen något som anses kunna förändra dessa intressenters beteenden. Avslutningsvis finns det tecken på att det är av stor vikt att det finns goda samarbeten mellan lokala aktörer för att öka de olika effekterna som sportevenemang exempelvis allsvenska fotbollsmatcher kan generera.

Magistro darbe pateikiami sporto renginių žiūrovų elgsenos teoriniai aspektai, tyrimo metodikos ir jos organizavimo analizė bei Lietuvos futbolo žiūrovų elgsenos tyrimas. Darbą sudaro: literatūros apžvalga, tyrimo metodika ir organizavimas, tyrimo rezultatai ir jų aptarimas bei išvados ir rekomendacijos. Pirmojoje dalyje aiškinama renginių ir sporto renginių sampratų esmė ir skirtumai, analizuojama sporto renginių žiūrovų tipologija ir jų elgseną įtakojantys veiksniai, nagrinėjama vartotojų-žiūrovų lojalumas, jų išlaikymas ir pakartotinio pirkimo priežastys bei aprašomas futbolo varžybų žiūrovų sprendimo priėmimo procesas. Antrojoje magistro darbo dalyje apra���omas tyrimo metodikos pagrindimas bei kiekybinio tyrimo „Futbolo žiūrovo Lietuvoje elgsena“ organizavimas. Trečiojoje dalyje atliekamas futbolo žiūrovų Lietuvoje elgsenos tyrimas ir formuluojamos sporto paslaugos-futbolo tobulinimo kryptys. Išvadose pateikiami pagrindiniai sporto renginių žiūrovų elgsenos aspektai, tyrimo parinkimo metodikos apibendrinimai ir kiekybinio tyrimo „Futbolo žiūrovo Lietuvoje elgsena“ rezultatai bei jais pagrįsti siūlymai. Svarbiausi šio darbo teoriniai ir praktiniai aspektai iliustruoti 21 paveikslu, 3 lentelėmis, 1 priedu, 1 formule, o teoriniams nagrinėjamos temos pagrindams panaudota 23 spausdintos literatūros šaltiniai bei 7 interneto puslapiai lietuvių ir anglų kalbomis. Darbe naudojamos pagrindinės sąvokos: sporto renginių žiūrovai, sporto paslauga, futbolas... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / This masters work analyses the theoretical aspects of the audience behaviour in sport events. Also the research methods and the analysis of its organization together with the research of the Lithuanian soccer viewers behavior. The work includes: overview of literature, research methods and organization, research results and discussions with conclusions and recommendations. First part covers the sports events and events point of conception and differences. It analyses the typology of sport events audience and the behavior influencing factors. Also discussing the loyalty of the audience, its consistency, and repetitive purchasing factors, and the soccer game viewer's decision making process. Second part talks about the proof of research methods and the organization of the quantitative research "the behavior of audience in Lithuanian soccer". Third part covers the research about the behavior of Lithuanian soccer viewers and develops sport services with soccer improving directions. Conclusion gives the main aspects of soccer viewers behavior, research selection methods, and the quantitative research "the behavior of audience in Lithuanian soccer" results and suggestions based on them. The main theoretical and practical aspects of this masters work are illustrated with 21 picture, 3 tables, 1 annex, 1 formula, and for the theoretical basics of the analyzed topic - 23 literature sources and also 7 internet web pages in Lithuanian and English languages have been used. The... [to full text]

Bakalauro darbo autorius IV kurso turizmo ir sporto vadybos programos Lietuvos sporto universiteto studentas Laimonas Alionis. Darbo tema - sporto renginių organizaciniai aspektai Kaišiadorių rajone. Šiuo darbu buvo norima išanalizuoti ir ištirti sporto renginių Kaišiadorių rajone organizavimo aspektus. Tikslinė auditorija - 46 - 55 metų, aukštąjį išsilavinimą turintys tarnautojai, kurių mėnesinės pajamos 1501 - 2500 litų. Pagrindiniai sporto renginių Kaišiadorių rajone organizavimo aspektai yra šie: renginio planavimo procesas, renginio tikslas, tikslų nustatymo mechanizmas, pajamų šaltinių nustatymas, pajamų paskirstymas, reklama, žmogiškųjų išteklių valdymas, savanorių dalyvavimas ir netikėtumo veiksnio analizė. Sporto renginiai Kaišiadorių rajone yra vykdomi nuosekliai. Daug dėmesio skiriama renginio planavimo etape tikslų nustatymui, kurių yra laikomasi iki renginiui pasibaigiant. Sporto renginiai organizuojami sporto visiems principu, kuriuo siekiama masiškumo, tačiau savivaldybės parama į renginio biudžetą yra nedidelė. / The author of the bachelor work is the IV course Lithuanian sport university student Laimonas Alionis of tourism and sport management program. The object of the work is sport events and their organizing aspects in Kaisiadorys district. The aim of the work is to analyze and investigate the aspects of the sport events in the Kaisiadorys district. Target audience - 46 - 55 years old, higher educated employees, with a monthly income of 1501 - 2500 LTL. The main aspects of organizing sport events in the Kaisiadorys district are: events planing process, the aim of event, the mechanism of aim setting, indentifying the sources of income, income distribution, advertising, human resources management, volunteering and the analyses risk factor. The sport events in the Kaisiadorys district are enforced consistently. A lot of attention is on the sport event planing and the stage purpose setting, which needs to be followed until the end of the event. The events are planned by the principle: sports for everybody, aimed to attract the masses, but the support from the municipal is not enough for the budget of the event.

The aim of the diploma thesis is to evaluate a significance of sport events for tourism and to analyze their impacts on tourism in the region. The thesis is divided into four chapters, the first two summarize theoretical knowledge - the economic importance of tourism, the inclusion of events into the context of the tourism industry and also specifics of sport events and their general impacts on the region, in which they are held. The next two chapters are devoted to the most important sport events in the Czech Republic as well as abroad and to the evaluation of their impacts on tourism in the destination. The final chapter focuses fully on the analysis of impacts of the Biathlon World Championship 2013 in Nové Město na Moravě on tourism in the region.

Title: Problems of sustainable development in sport Objectives: The main objective is to write a research thesis with a compilation character. The thesis will describe and discuss the issue of sustainable development in sport based on available materials. Methods: To create this theoretical research paper, the method of document analysis and study of secondary data was used. With the help of the compilation method, a synthesis of the available knowledge is formed and with the help of the comparison method is created a comparing of the studied data. Results: The study and analysis of the documents showed a wide involvement of stakeholders in the issue of sustainable development in sport. To a large extent, sustainability strategies are implemented. The reference is made to sustainability principles in the described areas (sports organisations, events, facilities, etc.). The issue of sustainable development is nowadays a widespread topic that permeates the functioning of sport at various levels and thus provides many opportunities for further study. Keywords: sport events, sport tourism, pillars of sustainability, theories of sustainable development

Using an ecological perspective, the current research developed a theoretical framework that suggests that environmental and personal resources related to physically active leisure, as well as the interactions between them, contribute to well-being. A distance-running event was examined as an environmental resource for enhancing global life satisfaction, a key measure of subjective well-being. In contrast, the constructs of behavioral involvement and psychological involvement were used to measure personal resources resulting from physically active leisure. The proposed framework was tested with a set of three studies in which participants were recruited through a survey panel from a 10-mile distance-running event in the US. Study 1 performed a partial least squares structural equation modeling analysis to examine whether the distance-running event contributed to behavioral and psychological involvement and whether such involvement, in turn, promoted global life satisfaction. By using longitudinal data over a 5-month period, Study 2 used a latent growth modeling approach to investigate whether the distance running event was able to enhance participants' psychological involvement and whether such change promoted global life satisfaction. Study 3 conducted a moderated mediation analysis to examine the influence of personality, behavioral and psychological involvement, and two environmental resources of the distance running event and an organized running club on global life satisfaction. The results of the three studies suggest that a distance-running event can serve as an environmental resource that promotes participants' behavioral involvement and psychological involvement in the activity. The results also indicate that psychological involvement plays an important role in promoting global life satisfaction, whereas behavioral involvement may be insufficient to promote global life satisfaction. Overall, the current research contributes to the sport management and leisure literature by providing scholars with a new way of understanding the benefits of physically active leisure. The findings from the current research also provide practical implications for government and community leaders to enhance people's well-being by promoting physically active leisure in their cities and communities. / Tourism and Sport

Sport and sport events contribute a big percentage to the growth of sport tourism in South Africa. South Africa also hosts some of the most significant endurance events such as the Cape Argus, Cape Epic, Midmar Mile, Two Oceans Marathon and the Comrades Marathon. These endurance events have the potential to enhance endurance sport in South Africa and can also be used as a tool for tourism. It is important however, to determine the endurance sport consumption behaviour for participants and spectators who attend these events, since their behaviour and habits will influence their choices pertaining to travelling for sport events and even tourism. Sport tourism literature currently does not provide information and insight on this matter. Due to the lack of literature pertaining to endurance sport consumption behaviour, a description had to be provided to aid with the study. Endurance sport consumption behaviour (ESCB) in this study is therefore described as behaviour revealed by sport consumers who adapt their lifestyles after realising their desire to be self-complete, by testing and developing their bodies through sport activities. Sport consumption becomes the essence when participating in competitive, nature-related and fitness activities for both professional and amateur sport consumers. For spectatorship, these behaviours will differ, since the intentions of fans and supporters as well as the reasons for spectating differ, but sport events give them the opportunity to engage in sport on a different level, whether for the event or for the participant. These behavioural intentions can be influenced by the sport consumers’ attitude and subjective norms. ESCB is influenced by three main factors and includes: the demographic and behavioural profile; the motives and travel behaviour and the commitment towards the sport/event. The goal of the study was therefore to do a critical assessment of sport consumption at endurance sport events. In order to achieve this aim, secondary data of five endurance events (Cape Argus, Cape Epic, Midmar Mile, Two Oceans Marathon and the Comrades Marathon) were pooled. A total of 6453 questionnaires were distributed between the respective events for both participants and spectators attending these sport events and were included in the statistical analysis. From a first point of view, these sport consumers might seem homogenous, but when analysing the results, it became evident that sport participants and spectators (with regards to participation and support of endurance events) were not homogenous pertaining to their sport consumption behaviour at the respective endurance sport events. There are four main aspects that drive ESCB for endurance participants, namely the type of participant who pursues the sport; the age of the participant; the type of sport and the motives to participate. Four travel motives for these endurance sport participants were commitment, intrinsic achievement, escape and socialisation and the challenge these events provide. Endurance participants furthermore see sport events as an opportunity to travel. The spectators’ ESCB were driven by their socio-demographic and behavioural profile and the motives for supporting the respective endurance events. Endurance sport spectators were motivated by the social interaction and the sport novelty of the sport events. Their memorable experiences were influenced by the event’s personnel and provision, amenities, comfort and visibility, infrastructure and marketing. The study made literature contributions pertaining to the description of ESCB, which were lacking from sport tourism literature. Based on the results, recommendations were made, not only based on ESCB, but also on how these types of events can be used to enhance sport tourism in South Africa as well as the participation and support for these types of sport. Spectators’ views on endurance sport events were also lacking. The study indicated that these consumers were personally involved with the participants’ journey to success, compared to supporters who attended for the event in specific. In this study, sport consumer profiles are compared on a large scale, which have not yet been done in current sport literature, providing a holistic overview of endurance sport consumers. Sport consumer profiles are influenced by the sport context and the marketing of these events, but most importantly the ESCB. Practical contributions include the specialisation for endurance sport events, the growth for sport and tourism and insights to consumer behaviour for sport event organisers and marketers. This study is important, especially for sport marketers and organisations, in order to ensure the long term sustainability and competitiveness for the sport industry as well as for expanding sport tourism and tourism in South Africa. / PhD (Tourism Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Sport and sport events contribute a big percentage to the growth of sport tourism in South Africa. South Africa also hosts some of the most significant endurance events such as the Cape Argus, Cape Epic, Midmar Mile, Two Oceans Marathon and the Comrades Marathon. These endurance events have the potential to enhance endurance sport in South Africa and can also be used as a tool for tourism. It is important however, to determine the endurance sport consumption behaviour for participants and spectators who attend these events, since their behaviour and habits will influence their choices pertaining to travelling for sport events and even tourism. Sport tourism literature currently does not provide information and insight on this matter. Due to the lack of literature pertaining to endurance sport consumption behaviour, a description had to be provided to aid with the study. Endurance sport consumption behaviour (ESCB) in this study is therefore described as behaviour revealed by sport consumers who adapt their lifestyles after realising their desire to be self-complete, by testing and developing their bodies through sport activities. Sport consumption becomes the essence when participating in competitive, nature-related and fitness activities for both professional and amateur sport consumers. For spectatorship, these behaviours will differ, since the intentions of fans and supporters as well as the reasons for spectating differ, but sport events give them the opportunity to engage in sport on a different level, whether for the event or for the participant. These behavioural intentions can be influenced by the sport consumers’ attitude and subjective norms. ESCB is influenced by three main factors and includes: the demographic and behavioural profile; the motives and travel behaviour and the commitment towards the sport/event. The goal of the study was therefore to do a critical assessment of sport consumption at endurance sport events. In order to achieve this aim, secondary data of five endurance events (Cape Argus, Cape Epic, Midmar Mile, Two Oceans Marathon and the Comrades Marathon) were pooled. A total of 6453 questionnaires were distributed between the respective events for both participants and spectators attending these sport events and were included in the statistical analysis. From a first point of view, these sport consumers might seem homogenous, but when analysing the results, it became evident that sport participants and spectators (with regards to participation and support of endurance events) were not homogenous pertaining to their sport consumption behaviour at the respective endurance sport events. There are four main aspects that drive ESCB for endurance participants, namely the type of participant who pursues the sport; the age of the participant; the type of sport and the motives to participate. Four travel motives for these endurance sport participants were commitment, intrinsic achievement, escape and socialisation and the challenge these events provide. Endurance participants furthermore see sport events as an opportunity to travel. The spectators’ ESCB were driven by their socio-demographic and behavioural profile and the motives for supporting the respective endurance events. Endurance sport spectators were motivated by the social interaction and the sport novelty of the sport events. Their memorable experiences were influenced by the event’s personnel and provision, amenities, comfort and visibility, infrastructure and marketing. The study made literature contributions pertaining to the description of ESCB, which were lacking from sport tourism literature. Based on the results, recommendations were made, not only based on ESCB, but also on how these types of events can be used to enhance sport tourism in South Africa as well as the participation and support for these types of sport. Spectators’ views on endurance sport events were also lacking. The study indicated that these consumers were personally involved with the participants’ journey to success, compared to supporters who attended for the event in specific. In this study, sport consumer profiles are compared on a large scale, which have not yet been done in current sport literature, providing a holistic overview of endurance sport consumers. Sport consumer profiles are influenced by the sport context and the marketing of these events, but most importantly the ESCB. Practical contributions include the specialisation for endurance sport events, the growth for sport and tourism and insights to consumer behaviour for sport event organisers and marketers. This study is important, especially for sport marketers and organisations, in order to ensure the long term sustainability and competitiveness for the sport industry as well as for expanding sport tourism and tourism in South Africa. / PhD (Tourism Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Lorsque nous parlons de relations internationales, nous parlons généralement de diplomatie et d'investissement, Le sport peut être utilisé comme outil pour améliorer la diplomatie entre les pays, ainsi que pour développer les intérêts économiques et sociaux. De plus, le sport occupe une place importante dans le repositionnement de l'image d'une nation, tout en améliorant le processus d'intégration des jeunes générations dans le monde. L'un des principaux intérêts, du point de vue du gouvernement, est de créer un lien affectif positif avec la nation hôte de l’évènement sportif. Ce qu'on appelle le soft power. Le but de ce travail est d'explorer certaines des façons dont le sport est utilisé pour générer ce pouvoir, et comment il peut contribuer à générer du contrôle ou à provoquer de l'influence, en se concentrant sur l'État du Qatar. Ce travail est séparé en trois parties principales. Je présente d'abord le développement du sport et la manière dont les événements sportifs ont été utilisés par différents pays et régimes politiques, ainsi que l'impact généré. Deuxièmement, j'essaie de comprendre l'impact généré par l'investissement du Qatar dans l'équipe de football française du Paris Saint-Germain. Et troisièmement, en mesurant l'impact socio-psychologique généré par la jeune génération en organisant des événements sportifs internationaux, le cas du championnat du monde de handball 2015. Ce travail vise à clarifier comment un tel investissement est perçu comme une opportunité de développement au sein de la société, et d'améliorer la diplomatie. En se concentrant sur l'évolution dont le sport est utilisé comme un outil important dans le processus de socialisation des jeunes dans la société mondiale. Sur la base de mes recherches, le résultat de l'investissement dans le Paris Saint-Germain était une situation «gagnant-gagnant» entre la France et le Qatar sur le plan social, économique et politique. De plus, l'utilisation des événements sportifs a eu un impact émotionnel positif, faisant admirer aux résidents la vision du gouvernement. La jeune génération, quelle que soit sa nationalité, a une vision positive des efforts du gouvernement pour s'améliorer et se développer. La vision du gouvernement du Qatar était saillante pour la jeune génération au Qatar. / When we mention international relations, we generally talk about diplomacy and investment, but there are other ways of promoting the interests of a government on the international stage. Sport can be used as tool to improve diplomacy between countries, as well as developing economic and social interests. Additionally, sport takes an important place in shaping the image of a nation, while it improves the integration process of young generations into the world. One of the main interests, from a government perspective, in the use of sport, is to generate a positive emotional connection to a host nation - what is known as soft power. The aim of this work is to explore some of the ways in which sport is used to generate this power, and how it can provide a type of control or influence. Specifically, it will focus on the State of Qatar. This work is separated to three main parts. First I present the development of sport and the way sport events were used by different countries and political regimes, and the impact generated. Second, I try to understand the impact generated from Qatar investment in the French football team Paris Saint-Germain. And third, I measured the socio-psychological impact generated on the young generation from hosting international sport events, as in the case of the Handball World championship 2015.This work sets to clarify how allowing such investment is perceived as an opportunity for development within the society, and to improve diplomacy. Additionally, focussing on the young generation allows me to study the evolution of how sport is an important tool in the process of socialization of young people into global society. Based on my research, I argue that the result of the Paris Saint-Germain investment was a "win-win" situation between France and Qatar on the social, economic, and political level. Also, using sport events generated positive emotional impact, making the residents admire the vision of the government. The young generation, regardless nationality has a positive view of government efforts to improve and develop itself - the Qatari government's vision was salient to the young generation in Qatar.