The Social Impact of Open Water Swimming Events

Mass-participation sports events are identified to have a social impact on their host communities, however the impact on participants is under-researched, as is the social impact of smaller mass-participation sport events. Academics are beginning to identify that smaller mass-participation events e.g. Park Run, Tough Mudder, can act as highly sociable spaces for participants outside their normal/usual social lives. This research project will look at the impact of open water swimming events on the social capital of participants. Very little detailed research into the social impact of open water swimming events exists, and this study is anticipated to be the first of its kind.This survey will feature questions on the sociability of open water swimming as a sport and open water swimming events. Questions will ask for demographic data and for your personal experience and opinion on sociable aspects of events. No names or contact details will be taken, and majority of questions will be optional. The raw data acquired from this survey will be confidential, will be stored safely, and will be erased a year after submission. The survey should take no longer than 15 minutes.