The Multidimensional Benefits of Participation in Masters Sports: A Case Study of the “Masters Koshien”

摘要

The purpose of this study is to explore the multidimensional benefits experienced by Masters Sports participants from a case of the Masters Koshien. This study focused on the Masters Koshien to collect qualitative data regarding detailed description of subjective benefits of the event participants and investigated what kind of benefits do the masters sports participants obtain substantially. Survey interviews were conducted and 1,878 linguistic data items were collected from 304 participants of the 2008 Masters Koshien, our action research program. In the series of thematic analysis, 21 benefits of masters sports were extracted and divided into 4 different dimensions of benefits: individual benefits, community benefits, social benefits, and educational benefits. It was suggested that this study could reveal three additional benefits that previous studies have not been explored such as community benefits, social benefits, and educational benefits of masters sports. Moreover, it was revealed that the Masters Koshien presented the general benefits derived from any masters sports and the typical benefits of the Masters Koshien's unique status as a mecca-like masters sports event and as an alumni membership sport event.