A qualitative study of the impact of the London 2012 Olympics on families in the East Midlands of England: lessons for sports development policy and practice

Abstract

The dynamics and culture of families are central to individual and community sport and physical activity participation. This research project examined the lived experiences and dayto-day realities of the London 2012 Olympics from the perspectives of five families in the East Midlands region of England. The aims of the project were to assess the influence the Games had on shaping family sports participation, influencing social and health relationships within the families through sports and reactions to the 2012 Olympics. The study was conducted through the generation of rich qualitative data from pre and post Games interviews as well as production of video diary data by the families and young people themselves to gather micro level information on the realities of 'legacy' for families. Findings from this research project illustrate that prior parental socialisation into sport shaped current attitudes to legacy and children and mothers and fathers had mixed reactions to the actual presence of legacy. There are also clear sports development challenges around accessibility, cost, project design, the non family-friendly nature of some schemes present during the potential consumption of legacy that have consequences for future research in this embryonic area.Implications from the study include the need to locate the family as a more central concern for policy makers in sports development practice. The study has questioned the assumed virtuous legacy of the London 2012 Games from the perspective of families on a day-to-day micro level. Instead, a far more complex and diverse picture from the perspective of the family has been presented that requires further critical research on this little explored topic of policy and practice in sports development.

The British Asian Muslim male sport participation puzzle: an exploration of implications for sport development policy and practice

“…Such subtle differences may be critical in developing relationships between faith communities and sport development practitioners aiming to increase participation levels. It also illustrates the importance of recognising complexity of locally negotiated aspects of identity in determining behaviour in response to government sport development policy (Mackintosh et al, 2015;Hylton and Morpeth, 2014). Sometimes this stands in contrast to pleas for more national 'insight' and campaigns and products to shape participation in national sport development policy (HM Government, 2015;Sport England, 2016a).…”

“…This is contrasted with Kahan (2003) who states that traditional Muslim families instruct their children to follow their path, which causes them to frown upon sport as an impediment to achieving education and career goals. This critical nexus between family, sporting interests and Islamic faith factors is at the heart of uncovering the 'participation puzzle' so many policy makers currently seek to address (Mackintosh et al, 2015;Girginov and Hills, 2008).…”

Schools’ engagement with the Get Set London 2012 Olympic education programme: Empirical insights from schools in a non-hosting region

“…A group of studies have specifically examined youth engagement with the Olympics (Cotton, 2012;Griffiths and Armour, 2013;Johnson et al, 2008;Kohe and Bowen-Jones, 2016;Reis et al, 2014). Focusing on the London 2012 Olympic Games, the work of Cotton (2012), Griffiths and Armour (2013), Kohe and Bowen-Jones (2016) and of Mackintosh et al (2015), are all particularly useful. Written before the London 2012 Olympic Games, Cotton's small-scale qualitative study revealed that, although the event may have been able to inspire young people to take up sports, the Olympic Games' association with certain Olympic sponsors (e.g.…”

‘Don’t you feel bad watching the Olympics, watching us?’ A qualitative analysis of London 2012 Olympics influence on family sports participation and physical activity

“…Qualitative research examining the London 2012 Olympics and its impact on sports participation in the UK is minimal (Mackintosh et al, 2014). The studies that exist, have analysed the build-up to the Games and the plans to deliver the participation legacy.…”

“…The Government department for sport's policy document Creating a Sporting Habit for Life (2012) established a vision of a positive future 2012 legacy and an upwards trajectory of sports participation (Mackintosh et al, 2014). However, the success of this legacy has been criticised because sports participation 1 figures of regular involvement 2 , amongst young people (16 to 25-yearolds) and adults (over 26 years) have dropped since the Games (Sport England, Active People 1 Participation in 30 minutes of moderate intensity sport.…”