Journal Article

Large-scale sport events and well-being: Exploring residents’ pre-event perspectives

Wymer, Sarah, Doyle, Jason, Naraine, Michael L, Lockstone-Binney, Leonie

2025

Overview

Large-Scale Sport Events (LSSE) are increasingly contested as host cities balance the benefits and costs of these events. Residents are a stakeholder group heavily impacted by LSSE given their rootedness in the host city over the event lifecycle spanning: bid submission, awarding of host rights, pre-event planning, event delivery, post-event shutdown and beyond. Yet, limited focus has been placed on understanding residents' perceptions of LSSE impacts in the pre-event period. Twenty-seven semi-structured interviews, guided by Seligman’s (2011) PERMA framework, were conducted with Australian residents in 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup host cities. Findings demonstrated how four PERMA domains (positive emotions, relationships, meaning and accomplishment) were activated. Findings advance understanding of how LSSE can positively impact residents in a phase of the event lifecycle when event organisers and host governments are often not yet actively engaging with this key stakeholder group. Key theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

• Publisher: Cognizant Communication Corporation
• Subject: Event Hosting / Event Impacts / Well-Being