Organizing and conducting sporting events online : a study of the 2011 CrossFit Games
Subject
sociocultural theory; interpretive theory; online communities; sport; Internet; organizational cultureAbstract
In a world where everything from dating to shopping to conducting business can be performed
online, competitive sport has remained an activity in which its online component is mostly relegated to news,
chat or fan forums, or fantasy-league interactions. The physicality of competitive sports does not lend itself
to an online format—until now. CrossFit (CF) is one of the fastest growing new fitness programs in the
world, and is based largely on online communities and networks. In 2011, CrossFit Incorporated (CF Inc.),
the creator of this worldwide fitness network, conducted the world’s largest online CF sporting competition,
where individuals recorded their performances online for public consumption, interaction and judging. Over
25,000 individuals and teams from around the world participated in 2011 which relies heavily on
participation and feedback, trust, social media and networking for its success.
By uncovering the essential components of the unique operating community of CF through analysis
of quantitative data, in-depth qualitative interviews, and textual analysis, this paper suggests a model for
producing a successful global sporting event online and discusses whether it may be applied to other athletic
organizations to increase their worldwide exposure and increase members access to global opportunities.
Findings determined a mix of criteria including attracting and retaining like-minded individuals through a
strong focus on cohesion, inclusion, and competition; strong local autonomy and control; and a willingness
on the part of members to promote the sport for the perceived wellbeing of others as necessary to a strong,
effective online component in facilitating global competition online.
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Lessons from the hockey rink: sport and self-regulation in the classroom
Dobbs, Jamie McCance (Electronic version published by Vancouver Island University, 2014)This thesis discusses the knowledge the author gained through her own lived autoethnographic experiences playing hockey, interpreted through research-based evidence, to show how sport and exercise can impact students’ ... -
The impact of high school sports on participating female students
Nicks, Dale (Electronic version published by Vancouver Island University, 2015)This study investigated the impact of high school sports on participating female students. The participants in this study were 38 former female students from a high school in School District #68, Nanaimo, British Columbia, ... -
Changing the game : university sport to develop transformational leadership skills in female student-athletes
Cyr, Danielle (2020-03-30)In collegiate sport in Canada, 24% of athletic directors and only 17% of head coaches are female, with even less female representation across national team and Olympic coaches (CAAWS, 2016). To address this issue of gender ...