@article{López Sánchez_Gordon_Hodgson_Stubbs_Gardner_Smith_2019, title={The effect of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics on spectators’ physical activity}, volume={1}, url={https://atenajournals.com/index.php/ajss/article/view/1}, abstractNote={<p><strong>Objectives: </strong> This study aimed to explore the influence of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics on physical activity motivation and behaviour among spectators.</p> <p><strong>Methods: </strong>The sample comprised 1851 spectators (mean age 36.6±12.7 years). Participants were asked via intercept surveys whether the Olympics changed or will change their desire to engage in regular physical activity, and whether they had increased their physical activity.</p> <p><strong>Findings: </strong>60.2% reported changes in their desire to engage in regular physical activity and 51.6% increased their physical activity. Those under 55 years of age were significantly more likely to change their desire to engage in regular physical activity (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.14 to 2.08). Non-Brazilians (versus Brazilians) were significantly more likely to report a change in their desire to engage in regular physical activity, and to have increased their physical activity (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.57; OR 1.40, 1.15 to 1.71, respectively).</p> <p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>While previous studies have found no relationship between Olympics and population physical activity, our findings suggest that the Olympics may provide a unique opportunity to improve levels of physical activity.</p>}, journal={Atena Journal of Sports Sciences}, author={López Sánchez, Guillermo Felipe and Gordon, Dan and Hodgson, Lisa and Stubbs, Brendon and Gardner, Benjamin and Smith, Lee}, year={2019}, month={Oct.}, pages={1} }