Non-mega sport events as sociopolitical projects: a case study of the Canada Games

Sport events are often used to meet political objectives and are justified due to their supposed ability to create positive social and economic impacts for the host region. However, much of what is known about how and why governments support events are in the context of mega-sport events and their role as sociopolitical projects. As such, the purpose of this project is to unpack the political agenda associated with the hosting of a non-mega, national sport event (the Canada Games), and how this agenda has been enacted in the processes and structures of the event and the Canadian sport system more broadly. To achieve this purpose, we used an exploratory case study methodology. Data collected included policies, archival documents, and reports, as well as semi-structured interviews with sport administrators. Neo-institutionalism and practice theory were both used as bases for interpretation. The Canada Games aim to achieve national unity, and sport, athlete, and community development objectives. The results from this project indicate that there are challenges in achieving broader political objectives within the current sport system in which the Canada Games are embedded. Issues of power, resource allocation, and equity in how the Canada Games operate within the organisational field became evident throughout data analysis. The results demonstrate critical concerns about the politicisation of amateur sport, highlights how sport continues to be an exclusive, power-mediated space, and offers insight into how non-mega sport events may be used as sociopolitical projects.