Title: Possibilities and limits of events promoting children sport participation - case study of Sazka Olympic multiple event Objectives: The aim of the study work is to evaluate the organization and success rate of the project "Sazka Olympic multiple event". The study analyses the possibilities and limits of the project, and provides recommendations how to improve the project in the following years. Methods: The study is a case study and uses mostly qualitative methods of research. Data collected from interviews and document analyses are then evaluated by the SWOT analysis. Results: The results of the study are proposals and recommendations for organization of "Sazka Olympic multiple event" which promotes children sport participation. The case study revealed both strengths and weaknesses of the project and defined its opportunities and threats. The recommendations may be used for the future realization of the project. Keywords: sport participation, children, Czech Olympic Committee, sport promotion

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The purpose of this research was to determine whether adolescents who participate in sport perform better academically in comparison to their non–participating counterparts. An availability sample of 210 learners between 14 and 24 years from a secondary school in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District took part in this research. The participants were assessed by a Biographical Questionnaire adapted from Mpshe (1996); an adapted version of The Physical Activity Index of Sharkey (1979); the General Scholastic and Aptitude Test (GSAT)(Claassen, De Beer, Hugo & Meyer,1998); The revised two–factor Study Process Questionnaire: R–SPQ–2F of Biggs (1987a, 1987b); The Rosenberg Self–Esteem Scale (RSES), Rosenberg (1965); an adapted version of The Self–concept and Motivation Questionnaire of Bester (2003), and The Psychological Wellbeing (PWB) Scales of Ryff (1989). To obtain an overview of the participants’ academic performance, averages obtained in the June 2010 examinations in the four compulsory learning areas, i.e. Setswana First Language, English First Additional Language, Life Orientation and either Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy, were calculated. A significant relationship between sport participation and academic performance was yielded by a cross–tabulation with a practical significance of 0.09. Univariate regression models with academic performance as dependent variable and the following variables as independent variables were calculated as separate models, namely: IQ, Deep approach and Surface Approach as dimensions of the R–SPQ–2F, Motivation, Self–esteem and Psychological well–being. Only self–esteem was found to significantly predict academic performance. A further analysis using an interaction between sport participation and self–esteem did not yield a significant finding. It was concluded that it is important that Educational planners should take cognisance of the literature and research findings of this study. In future studies bigger samples can be used and the interaction between cognitive, non–cognitive and sociodemographic variables in the prediction of academic performance can be studied. / Thesis (M.A. (Research Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The purpose of this research was to determine whether adolescents who participate in sport perform better academically in comparison to their non–participating counterparts. An availability sample of 210 learners between 14 and 24 years from a secondary school in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District took part in this research. The participants were assessed by a Biographical Questionnaire adapted from Mpshe (1996); an adapted version of The Physical Activity Index of Sharkey (1979); the General Scholastic and Aptitude Test (GSAT)(Claassen, De Beer, Hugo & Meyer,1998); The revised two–factor Study Process Questionnaire: R–SPQ–2F of Biggs (1987a, 1987b); The Rosenberg Self–Esteem Scale (RSES), Rosenberg (1965); an adapted version of The Self–concept and Motivation Questionnaire of Bester (2003), and The Psychological Wellbeing (PWB) Scales of Ryff (1989). To obtain an overview of the participants’ academic performance, averages obtained in the June 2010 examinations in the four compulsory learning areas, i.e. Setswana First Language, English First Additional Language, Life Orientation and either Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy, were calculated. A significant relationship between sport participation and academic performance was yielded by a cross–tabulation with a practical significance of 0.09. Univariate regression models with academic performance as dependent variable and the following variables as independent variables were calculated as separate models, namely: IQ, Deep approach and Surface Approach as dimensions of the R–SPQ–2F, Motivation, Self–esteem and Psychological well–being. Only self–esteem was found to significantly predict academic performance. A further analysis using an interaction between sport participation and self–esteem did not yield a significant finding. It was concluded that it is important that Educational planners should take cognisance of the literature and research findings of this study. In future studies bigger samples can be used and the interaction between cognitive, non–cognitive and sociodemographic variables in the prediction of academic performance can be studied. / Thesis (M.A. (Research Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The unique potential of sport as a site for the delivery of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has received increasing academic attention in recent years (e.g. Smith & Westerbeek, 2007). However, this literature has been said to have held 'relatively static conceptualisations of CSR through sport' (Dowling, Robinson & Washington, 2013, p. 270), and it could similarly be argued that insufficient attention has been given to the broader social contexts in which it has been delivered. This study therefore aimed to understand more about sport - and the Olympic Games - as a site for the delivery of CSR, using the specific context of private sector sponsor-led CSR schemes based upon the sport and physical activity participation legacy of London 2012. Three separate stages of qualitative data collection were conducted. The first comprised a thematic analysis of macro level policy discourse produced by official Olympic 'legacy actors' in relation to the proclaimed sport and activity legacy of the Games. The second stage also used thematic analysis in order to establish how 20 sponsors rationalised their CSR activity around the Games and how six who organised programmes involving either sport or activity participation justified these. The third stage comprised a series of semi-structured interviews with representatives of three Olympic sponsors and three charity delivery partners who co-operated in the delivery of specific CSR schemes. Once data was organised into themes, data analysis was informed by a governmentality perspective in order to help understand the respective roles of public and private sector organisations in not just the delivery of CSR, but also in 'governing' society in the broadest sense of the term.

In 2018, the initiative walking-football was introduced in various associations in Sweden, which is an adapted activity for the elderly. This to try to get more elderly people to want to participate in sports and to become more physically active throughout their lives. The purpose of the study was to elucidate and increase the knowledge of the importance of walking-football for people who are 65 years or older. This study would also highlight the effects the activity can contribute, as well as similarities and differences in women's and men's stories about the activity. Furthermore, the study aimed to investigate whether this activity can contribute to a lifelong sport participation. This study is based on a semi-structured method of interviewing and data collection, where three ladies and three gentlemen will answer questions that include how they experience their participation, what is meaningful about the activity and what possible effects the activity can have. The results of the interviews indicate that togetherness, joy and meeting new people are important for everyone who participated in the study regardless of gender. It turned out that the biggest difference between the gender was that most ladies felt that their physical ability was affected by the fact that they started playing walking-football, while the most men believe that even before they started, they had good physical basis. It was also found that the participants' health was affected in various ways, among other things by increased fitness, better balanceand mobility, and that they got to know new people and were able to create meaningful relationships.All participants in the study also say that no one wants to stop playing and that they intend to play aslong as it is physically possible. One conclusion of this study was that walking-football can contribute to lifelong participation among the elderly.

The aim of this paper was to study how sports associations or support associations that practice sports, work to include young people with a foreign background in their activities, what activities such associations organize to help these young people create new contacts with other social arenas and what measures they take to counteract or prevent social exclusion. We studied whether and to what extent the members' participation helps them to integrate more easily into the Swedish society by learning the language and getting acquainted with Swedish culture. The study was conducted with semi-structured interviews. We interviewed two leaders and two coaches who are all active in associations that aim to assist the young people with foreign background. This selection of respondents gave us a broad spectrum of what is going on inside these associations. With the interviews as a starting point, we have tracked various positive and less positive topics. Young people with a foreign background can end up in various difficult situations, such as unemployment, which can lead to exclusion or other exclusionary factors that in a broader sense will affect both young people and society. Our study results in that participation in sports or support associations can help young people with a foreign background to integrate more easily into Swedish society, but it is crucial that societal resources are not deficient.

Name: Sports in leisure of Dobříš town citizens Goals: The main objective of this thesis is to find out what is the role of sport in leisure activities of citizens of Dobříš. The second goal is to obtain information about which means are used to support sports activities of citizens by city leaders. Methods: In my work, I use methods of empirical social research. I chose a quantitative method of questionnaire survey and qualitative semi-structured interview method because I'm interested in people's as well as the mayor's opinion. Results: The local sports situation has been assessed and analyzed. Thanks to the questionnaire survey, citizens' views on the issues of sports possibilities in Dobříš, their attitude and participation in sport were identified. The data are interpreted and displayed in tables and graphs in a result section, as well as an interview with the mayor. Key words: offer of sport activities, pasive and active sport participation, social froups, town sport policy

There is a lack of knowledge on how alternative forms of sports facility provision influences end user's sports and physical activity behaviour, and the consequent impact this has on their health, well-being and social capital. To address this knowledge gap, this thesis has undertaken a multi-level analysis of the sport delivery system. It examines if strategic priorities and objectives pursued by different types of sport and fitness facilities, that are being influenced by macro level forces, along with their characteristics and ownership, influences individuals sport participation behaviour with a potential consequent impact on the policy outcomes of health, well-being and social capital. In the UK recently, sport policy objectives have focussed on increasing the population s participation in sport and physical activity to enhance a range of outcomes including health, well-being and social capital. Over the last three decades, there has also been significant changes in sport provision with the growth of private sector facilities, and public sector facilities being outsourced to private management. However, there is no evidence of the effectiveness of these alternative arrangements in delivering the policy objectives. There is limited knowledge on how different agents and actors in the sport delivery system function collectively to achieve these objectives or not, and a multi-level analysis of the sport delivery system i.e., from policy, through facilities, to end users does not exist. This gap in knowledge is addressed in this thesis through the adoption of a mixed methods case study of Leicestershire and Rutland Sport-County Sport Partnership (LRS-CSP) region in the midlands of England. The sport participation of individuals who use differently owned and managed sport and fitness facilities in the LRS-CSP region is examined, and the impact this has on their health, well-being and social capital, from macro level (policy), meso level (facilities), and micro level (end users) perspectives. Data collected at these levels involves, semi-structured interviews with the regional managers (macro level) who are responsible for the development and provision of sport in the region, a quantitative survey involving the facility managers (meso level) who are responsible for the day-to-day activities of the facilities, and quantitative survey and focus groups of end users in the region (micro level). Surveys done at the meso and the micro level are matched to the facilities of a variety of different ownership and characteristics to explore the influence this might have on individuals participation frequency and the impact this has on their health, well-being and social capital. The results show that government and public sport agencies priorities towards the sports sector which operate at the macro level of the sport delivery system influence the strategic objectives pursued by different types of sport and fitness facilities that are responsible for sport provision at the meso level of the sport delivery system. Public sport agencies and government bodies through their policies seem to have a significant influence over public sector including LMC facilities strategic decision making. However, this is not the case for the private sector facilities. Neither the strategic objectives of facilities nor their ownership and characteristics are shown to have a significant difference on the users sport participation behaviour, nor on the sport policy outcomes of their health, well-being and social capital. The largest influence on sport participation seems to be when individuals engage in sport with those they meet at the facility, indicating that facilitation of the co-creation of social capital among individuals could play a bigger role in increasing participation levels. Along with this, results also show that sport participation has a direct positive influence on individuals health which then enhances their well-being and social capital. This thesis contributes towards the long-standing debate about the relative value of different ownership types that span the public, private, and LMCs and their relationship with performance . The findings of the thesis suggest that, providing general availability of space for sport and fitness activities and by facilitating a network of opportunities with others and across activities is important in achieving the policy outcomes of improved participation and the consequent positive impact this has on health, well-being and social capital, and should be given priority in sport provision.

With the abundance of literature focusing on parental influence in sport, it is important to identify family dynamics that extend beyond parents to include siblings. In this study, sibling influence was explored though interviews with previously identified elite youth female athletes (N=4) and their sibling (N=4) of the same sex who participated in the same sport. The purpose was to discover how siblings influence sport participation and how parents influence sibling relationships, retrospectively. Three categories emerged from the data: positive experiences participating in the same sport, negative experiences participating in the same sport, and perception of the parental role. The participants’ descriptions coincide with observational learning and both deidentification and divergence processes. The data adds to the probable sibling and parent experiences proposed in the Developmental Model of Sport Participation and provides insight for athletes, parents, and coaches on how to manage sibling relations in sport. / October 2015