Keywords: sport, patriotism, ideology, patriotic rhetoric

 

Introduction  

Sporting events have evolved into arenas not only for athletic competition but also for active engagement by social activists and sports volunteers. Beyond their organizational roles in hosting competitions, these individuals play a significant part in civic-patriotic education and in fostering patriotic self-awareness among both athletes and spectators. Several scholars have examined the motivations of sports volunteers (Poluyshkevich & Ivanov, 2024; Poluyshkevich & Ivanov, 2023).

 

Research objective  

This study aims to analyze socio-patriotic activity manifesting during sporting events.

 

Methodology and research organization  

The study involved 600 young people aged 18 to 25, comprising 56% women and 44% men. A quota-based sampling method was employed, stratified by gender, age, and relationship to sport: 200 participants were professional athletes, 200 were active fans, and 200 served as volunteers or spectators at sporting events. Different participant groups were selected to capture more objective data on the rhetorical patterns present during competitions. Data analysis was conducted using the SPSS statistical software package.

 

Results and discussion  

Survey results revealed four key dimensions of socio-patriotic activity observed during sporting events:

 

1. Promotion of national and state identity through achievements in national sports (36%);  

2. Promotion of patriotic values via historical narratives (25%). This dimension is particularly activated during events when historical references, past accomplishments of domestic athletes, and national heritage are invoked;  

3. Personal-professional exemplarity of athletes, framed through national-patriotic discourse as “the athlete as national hero” (24%);  

4. Formal-organizational expression (15%), such as institutional rituals, uniforms, flags, and official ceremonies.

 

Notably, professional athletes most frequently identified the promotion of national/state identity (44%) and personal exemplars of athletes (36%), likely due to their direct familiarity with historical sporting icons. Fans tended to focus more on historical narratives (38%) and formal-organizational elements (25%). Sports volunteers emphasized national/state identity promotion (32%) and formal-organizational aspects (27%), reflecting their frequent exposure to administrative and ceremonial components of events.

 

Conclusion  

Socio-patriotic rhetoric is prevalent across a wide range of social communications during sporting events. Different stakeholder groups—athletes, fans, volunteers, and spectators—perceive these messages as part of an ambient cultural backdrop. We argue that more intentional and structured efforts to harness this rhetoric could significantly enhance levels of civic engagement and patriotism among all those involved in or affected by sporting events.

 

References