TANJA ANGLEITNER SAGADIN

FASCINATION IRONMAN:SPORTS TOURISM OR

DESTINATION DISCOVERY

— www.almamater.si — tanja.angleitner@almamater.si

Dimensions of wellness

Source: http://wellness.hkbu.edu.hk/wellness_wheel_7.gif

Source: http://www.sjsu.edu/wellness/dimensions_defined/

Physical Wellness

“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The

enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race,

religion, political belief, economic or social condition.”

WHO, Constitution (1946)

Physical wellness

• Health – complete phyical well-being (WHO)

• Active people – health – sports for relaxation and recreation

• Recreation: “refreshment of strength and spirits after work“, or with the meaning of “hobby“, it is a means of refreshment or diversion

• Improve health and well-being of the nation: mass participation opportunities (NSRP, SA)

How much recreation?

• How much recreation do adults need?

• Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans:

o 150min of moderate activity/day

• Regular recreation – physical wellbeing

• Competitive sports? “wanting to be more successful than others: relating to or involving competition“.

Physical wellness vs. Sports

• Sports: opportunity to attract, motivate and inspire; brings people together, fosters social connections

• Keys for achieving fittness goals:

SPECIFICITY (goals) REGULARITY (often)

PROGRESSION (intensity) OVERLOAD (exceed)

BALANCE (all components) RECOVERY (hard / easy)

Recreational Sports

• The most popular type of athletic activity

• Primary purpose: participation

• Related goals: improve physical fitness, fun, social involvement

• Less stressful on participants

• Result expectations and performance are lower

• Relatively high commitment

Competitive sports

• Emphasis on achievement of success and attainment of physical skills

• Rigorous training

• Not reserved to elites – but also to amateur individuals

• Mass participation events: marathons and road races, triathlons, nordic skiing,…

Sports tourism

• Any activity in which people are attracted to a particular location as a sport event participant, an event spectator or to attend sport attractions or sport-related business meetings.

• Sports tourism refers to travel away from home to play sport, watch sport, or to visit a sports attraction, and includes both competitive and non competitive events.

Sports tourism

• Tourism and sport are key elements of today’s culture,

• Influence on the behaviour of society,

• Sport tourism = specific motivations, special for sport, such as competitiveness, willingness to win and the opportunity to share a special interest together with other people.

What is Ironman?

Ironman around the globe

• Half-Ironman races: 73 in 2014 (33 in Europe)

• App. No. of participants: 2,500 / race

• Ironman races: 53 last season, 39 listed for 2015

• App. No. Of participants: between 2,500 – 3,500

Ironman distance

IM in Europe• 9 races

Half IM in Europe• 11 races

Challenge Series Europe• 11 races:

Long and

Middle

distance

Other long-distance• 36 races

or more

Value of brands

• In the world of sports, a brand is a logo, a distinctive picture and association, positioned in the mind of consumers

http://www.fiba.com/asp_includes/downloa

d.asp?file_id=406

Brand

• 36 years (Hawaii 1978)

• Logo and symbol: PROMISE OF EXPERIENCE

• Stands for: durability, performance, best in class, authentic, excellence, dream, fulfillment, accomplishment, passion, leader, original.

• In 2014: 85,000 entrants

• 54 destinations worldwide

• Life-long dream for many: earn the way to Kona.

Case study

• 21 triathlon clubs in Slovenia

• In 2013: 167 licenced male and 45 licenced female athletes competed in SLO championship

• 3 NE Slovenia clubs: 150 members, 35 long or middle distance finishers

• Survey: completed by 24 (20 male + 4 female) finishers

• Quantitative and qualitative analysis

Number of IM racesIM races

1 to 4 (9)

5 to 9 (4)

10 or more (6)

1/2 IM

1 to 4 (10)

5 to 9 (7)

10 or more (7)

Weekly training hours

Reasons for picking race

Traveling with family

Research issues

• Destination discovery or Sports Tourism?

• Fascination with Ironman

• Healthy or beyond healthy?

• Reasons for growing interest

Conclusion

• Destination discovery:

o Travelling with families

o Training less than 15 hrs /week

o New destinations

o Destinations further away (2 week trips)

o Not result driven but sightseeing

o Physical wellness – Healthy lifestyle

Conclusion

• Sports tourism:

o Travelling mostly without families

o Training more than 15 hrs /week

o Nearby destinations (max. 12 hours away)

o Result driven – competitive

o Goal: Kona qualification

o Physical wellness: beyond healthy

Conclusion

• Not considered:

o Financial aspect – needs to be analysed in the future

o Larger sample: all Slovene IM finishers

o Qualititave research: more focus and emphasis on just IM races

Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else can. Sport can awaken hope where

there was previously only despair.

Nelson Mandela; Laureus Sports Awards Ceremony (2000)

Thank you.