Leisure and Volunteer Motivation at a Special Sporting Event

Abstract

Abstract Volunteering as a form of leisure has been of interest to researchers for some time. This study examines volunteer motivation at a special sporting event in order to identify the links between special event motivations and volunteering as a leisure experience within the context of the work/leisure continuum developed by Cuskelly and Harrington (1997). A questionnaire was administered to volunteers to assess motivation using the Special Event Volunteer Motivation Scale (SEVMS). Analysis revealed four motivational factors: Solidary, Purposive, Commitment, and External Traditions, of which the least important for this group of volunteers was External Traditions. The results suggest that for many of these special event volunteers, volunteer motivation is multifaceted and for some can be viewed as a serious leisure experience, one which is motivated by the desire to contribute to society and to develop the self.