An Examination of the Multidisciplinary Impacts of Hosting a National Multi-Sport Event

The purpose of this study was to determine the multidisciplinary impacts of the 2005 Jeux du Canada Summer Games (2005 CSG) on the University of Regina Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies (KHS). KHS was the focus of the study because it accommodated numerous events during the Games.;The study was conducted in a case study format. Data was obtained via in-depth open interviews with senior administrators and staff who were employed within KHS. Focus groups were conducted with senior undergraduate students and university staff, who were also stakeholders of KHS.;The findings of the case study are presented in five sections, according to impact category. The first section on socio-cultural impacts discusses the impact of the Games in terms of play and recreation capacity within the faculty, which was ultimately improved due to the increased physical space provided for such activities. A work and personal relations variable was also analyzed and findings are very heterogeneous, however most attributed such impacts to the infrastructure and physical space. The second section pertains to the psychological impacts with a focus on morale and pride. Findings suggest that morale was directly impacted by the 2005 CSG whereas pride was improved through the new infrastructure. Tourism is the focus of the third section and is further broken down into three subsections. The first being awareness of building and the faculty which improved because of the Games. The variable concerning the perception of the building and faculty was also improved because of the Games. It was also evident that the faculty was able to host other events because of the new infrastructure and increased reputation from the Games. Political impacts are presented in the fourth section and there was a lack of dialogue concerning such variables for multiple reasons. The physical or infrastructure impact of the 2005 CSG on the faculty is discussed in the fifth section. Discussion surrounds the notion that infrastructure interrelates with all impact categories and actually had a greater impact on the faculty than the Games themselves.;The infrastructure impacts were the most significant impact within the study. An overarching issue surrounded the argument as to whether the infrastructure was a direct function of the Games. The issues that participants addressed were that a large majority of the funding was not provided by the Games and the argument that the building would have been built regardless of the Games. Since the infrastructure had the greatest impact and was not deemed a complete function of the Games, the 2005 CSG had a minimal lasting impact on KHS.;Ritchie (1984) argued for a multidisciplinary approach for determining the impact of a sporting event. His framework (1984) consists of six impact categories; economic, socio-cultural, tourism/commercial, psychological, political and physical. All impact categories, excluding economic impact, served as the framework for this study.