Title: Motivation and high performance sports events: an exploratory investigation of the motives underlying repeated participation

Authors: Konstantinos Koronios; Marina Psiloutsikou; Athanasios Kriemadis; Georgia Gkatsis; Marina Mavromati

Addresses: Department of Sport Management, University of Peloponnese, E.S. Valioti and Plataion, Sparti, 23100, Greece ' School of Business, Athens University of Economics and Business, 28is Oktovriou 76, Athina 104 34, Greece ' Department of Sport Management, University of Peloponnese, E.S. Valioti and Plataion, Sparti, 23100, Greece ' Department of Sport Management, University of Peloponnese, E.S. Valioti and Plataion, Sparti, 23100, Greece ' Department of Business Administration, University of Macedonia, Egnatia 156, Thessaloniki, 546 36, Greece

Abstract: The aim of this study is to present a theoretical framework of sport entrepreneurship research and to bridge the gap between sport participation and entrepreneurship. More specifically, the aim of this research is to investigate the factors influencing participation in high performance sport events. Furthermore, the present research explores the impact of gender on motivation of athletes as well as the impact of the various type of events. A quantitative method was used and questionnaires were gathered from three different races. A total of 616 questionnaires was achieved, which were then analysed using SPSS. Regression analysis showed that the intention to participate in future events is explained by the proposed variables; physical and mental health, attachment to the event, and sportscape factors. Moreover, the type of the event was found to have a moderating role.

Keywords: ultra-running; ultra-cycling; motivation; high-performance sport; participation; sport entrepreneurship.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSMM.2019.097001

International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing, 2019 Vol.19 No.1/2, pp.35 - 55

Received: 02 Sep 2017
Accepted: 05 Feb 2018
Published online: 14 Dec 2018 *

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