Mass sport policy development in the Olympic City: the case of Qingdao — host to the 2008 sailing regatta

Abstract

The Olympic Games have emerged as a significant catalyst of urban change and leave numerous legacies to the cities and countries that host them. This article will address the impacts of the preparations for the 2008 Olympic sailing regatta on mass sport development in the host municipal city of Qingdao, China, and examine the government's mass sport policy and development interventions that are linked to the 2008 Olympic Bid and subsequent preparations. The research draws on policy-making theory to unravel the nature of change and development of mass sport in Qingdao, especially how national and local governments create new policies to promote mass sport development in Qingdao and persuade people to take regular physical activity and practise sports to improve health. The article indicates that the preparations for the event generate significant improvements in mass sport in Qingdao, such as the development of mass sport policies, increase in sports participation rates, creation of new sporting facilities, and consequent improvement of public health. Nevertheless, negative effects are also evidenced in the greater imbalance between rural and urban sports development, and the high fees for using the new water sports facilities.