Beyond the host nation: an investigation of trickle-down effects in the ‘Hometowns’ of Canadian athletes who competed at the London 2012 Olympic Games

Research question: Can evidence of trickle-down-effects be observed among youth living in the hometowns Canadian athletes that competed and/or won medals at the London 2012 Olympic Games? Research methods: Leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) rates male and female were extracted from Community Health Survey (n > 1,000,000) for 110 health regions during pre-Olympic (2009/2010), Olympic (2011/2012), post-Olympic (2013/2014) year periods. The regions were treated as panel units and, beyond Canadian medallists, data analysis incorporated population size previous hosting control variables model. Results Findings: revealed number representing youths’ Games was negatively associated with LTPA when considering full sample youth, particular. Interestingly however, winning (of any colour) positively associated with hometown youth. Hometown population female specifically. Winning a gold medal previous Olympic/Paralympic Games not significantly full or separately. Implications: Our study demonstrates need researchers sport managers to consider spatial reach scope trick-down-effects beyond which can occur within host nation. These effects have potential global phenomenon.