Unintended outcomes of the London 2012 Olympic Games: local voices of resistance and the challenge for sport participation leverage in England

Mackintosh, Chris; Darko, Natalie and May-Wilkins, Hetty (2016). Unintended outcomes of the London 2012 Olympic Games: local voices of resistance and the challenge for sport participation leverage in England. Leisure Studies, 35(4) pp. 454–469.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02614367.2015.1031269

Abstract

This study was undertaken with five families before, during and after the London 2012 Olympics to examine and explore everyday reactions to the Games on families in the East Midlands region of England. The aim of the research was to build localised accounts of the multiple interpretations, potential impacts and reactions to the Olympics in everyday family household settings. The views, perceptions and interpretations of the Games were gathered through qualitative research methods, using video diaries and, pre- and post-event, group interviews. Findings from the study illustrated diverse reactions to the legacy messages, resistance to policy interpretations surrounding this mega event and a strong sense of regional and financial exclusion from the event. Lessons can be learnt for both policy-makers and event managers in the design of future events that encompass the localised perspectives of those communities and individuals who consume the event beyond direct physical participation. In particular, themes from the data included the importance of regional community involvement of national showcase events, limitations of existing media and web-based information sources, and the everyday resistance to policy messages assumed as taken for granted. It is also hoped that the study will provide lessons for the Rio 2016 Olympics from a local delivery perspective.

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About

• Item ORO ID
• 50658
• Item Type
• Journal Item
• ISSN
• 1466-4496
• Project Funding Details

• Funded Project Name	Project ID	Funding Body
  Not Set	Not Set	Nottingham Trent University

• Keywords
• sport development Olympics; qualitative; family; sports participation; London 2012; legacy
• Academic Unit or School
• Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS) > Education, Childhood, Youth and Sport
  Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS)
• Copyright Holders
• © 2015 Taylor and Francis
• Depositing User
• Natalie Darko