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For many years, special events have played an important role as strategic elements within commu- nity development. However, to date little work has been conducted on how to maximize the social potential of special events in low- and middle-income countries. In addressing this issue, we reflect on event management processes and leverage mechanisms that have underpinned a community sport event in the Pacific Island nation of Sāmoa, and identify strategies for maximizing beneficial event outcomes. We present findings related to previously identified leverage areas, including sociocultural and participatory leverage, and also suggest new areas that seem particularly relevant in the context of community development, including educational, health-related, and reputational leverage. Finally, key challenges and opportunities for event managers and local communities are discussed, implica- tions for event leverage are provided, and areas for future research are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study concerning the opinions, interpretations, and perceptions of legitimacy by a selection of fitness centre managers in Auckland, New Zealand on affiliation with New Zealand Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs NZ).

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports in the issue on topics including the theoretical pluralism that characterises the present sports for development and peace (SDP) field and the epistemological and ontological issues in the theoretical and methodological approaches that inform SDP projects and research.

Events legacies have become a common feature in the public policy rhetoric surrounding sport events of all sizes. Public policy planners and event organizers are increasingly promoting the legacies of sport events to justify significant investments required to host them. Within the context of special events, legacy is most often recognized as the long-term or permanent outcomes for a host city from staging an event. These outcomes include potential economic, tourism, social, physical, and/or environmental factors. However, the justification of legacies from events remains complicated due to inconsistent conceptualizations of legacy across academic and industry practice. While legacy is an increasing component of event bids as well as funding justifications and postevent reports, the concept itself has attracted limited critical analysis. This article puts forth a comprehensive review of literature that has sought to define legacy, from 1991-2008, drawing on event management, sport management, and urban planning contexts. An inductive interpretive analysis of definitions was undertaken, in which key considerations were identified and definitions assessed against these. The analysis revealed five key considerations of legacy in application to the sport event management context. In doing so, this article contributes to both theoretical debate and improved strategic practice surrounding the emergence of "legacy" as justification for staging sport events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sport events are believed to promote dialogue, integration, and peaceful understanding among disparate groups, even when other forms of negotiation have not been successful. However, the social outcomes from sport events are largely anecdotal and there is a need to empirically examine the active engagement of groups with "others" in participatory sport event projects. This article investigates the potential of an intercommunity sport event in contributing to intergroup development and social capital building in the ethnically divided Sri Lanka. It follows an interpretive mode of inquiry where findings are derived from the analysis of 35 in-depth interviews with Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, and international event stakeholders. By providing evidence of the varying sociocultural experiences at the event, this article discusses the event's impact on intergroup relations and its influence on the stock of social capital available to communities. Findings can assist governments, policy makers, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in advancing policies and practical measures that build on events as vehicles and catalysts for enhanced intergroup relations and the creation of social capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which examines the importance of inter-community sport events to contribute to social development in divided societies. It identifies the roles and responsibilities of a change agent in facilitating community development projects as well as understand the socio-cultural experiences that arise from intercommunity sport events. Also, it indicates the implications for social development through sport events.