*6.1. Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Surveyed Participants (Athletes and Supporters).*

The survey was attended by residents of Poznan: active (athletes) and passive (sports fans) participants of events. A total of 774 respondents took part in the survey: 210 Half Marathon athletes, 256 Half Marathon fans and 308 "Cavaliada" fans who were simultaneously inhabitants of the city of Pozna ´n. There has been deliberate selection of respondents, who are participants in the event. The population questioned was chosen compared to its knowledge of the event to be able to identify simultaneously its positive and negative aspects. However, we have excluded residents who are disinterested in the event who may express a more negative outlook but who are not necessarily able to testify to the positive effects of the event. It was considered that their opinion would be objective, from the perspective of both residents and tourists. The table below present the socio-demographic profile of the respondents. A sample of 774 respondents: 315 men and 459 women participated in the event voluntarily and completed a questionnaire. The participants of the research were mainly between 18 and 25 years old (39.7%—307) and 26–35 years old (30.7%—238). Among the surveyed residents of Poznan, people with higher education constituted the vast majority of 41.8% (324), 27.9% (216) possessed secondary education and 18.1% (140) were people with incomplete higher education. A greater percentage of them—48.8% (378) was professionally active and over 29.7% were students (230). The socio-demographic characteristics of respondents are presented below (Table 2).


**Table 2.** Socio-demographic characteristics of surveyed participants (athletes and supporters).

Source: Own work on the basis of test results, N = 774.

The results of the research were divided and presented in three groups. The first two groups of results are presented in Table 3, Table 4. They contain the opinion of the participants of the 6th Poznan Half Marathon: athletes (210) and fans (256).

**Table 3.** Negative effects of organizing sporting events in Poznan in the opinion of residents—Half Marathon Athletes.

**Table 3.** *Cont*.

Likert Scale (1-10)

Mean Median Minimum Maximum Standard

Deviation

Satisfied with the organization of sports events in Poznan, bearing in mind the disadvantages of organizing events from the Poznan Half Marathon in the city.

2019

Deviation

Likert Scale (1-10)

Sports events from the Poznan Half Marathon cycle cause an increase in crime in the city (e.g. thefts)

Source: Own work on the basis of test results, N = 210.

**Table 4.** Negative effects of organizing sporting events in Poznan in the opinion of residents—Half Marathon Fans.

**Table 4.** *Cont*.

**Table 4.** *Cont*.

Source: Own work on the basis of test results, N = 256.

It turned out that as many as 67.1% of the athlete's respondents said that the Poznan Half Marathon causes bothersome communication problems in the city. Only 32.9% had a different opinion on this subject. In order to further analyze the obtained results, 141 respondents who said YES were asked to define the intensity level of their discomfort in the communication problems caused the 6th Poznan Half Marathon Organization on a 10-point Likert scale (answer scale: 10—very high, 1—very low). The respondents concluded that the Pozna ´n Half Marathon causes communication problems in a city with an average level of 5.5 points.

The research has shown that more often than every tenth person (13.3%—28) stated that the Poznan Half Marathon causes inadequate behavior of fans in the city and concluded that the Poznan Half Marathon causes inadequate supporter behavior in the city on average at 4 points on a 10-point scale. However, the majority—86.7% had a different opinion. According to 128 participants, the fans behave properly.

Exactly every tenth person (10%—21) said that the Pozna ´n Half Marathon causes an increase in crime in the city. It turns out that as many as 9 out of 10 researched people had a different opinion on this subject. These 21 respondents concluded that the Pozna ´n Half Marathon causes an increase in crime in the city on an average of 3.1 points on a 10-point scale. Moreover, as almost 99% of the surveyed residents of the Half Marathon athletes found that they were satisfied with the organization of the Poznan Half Marathon in their place of residence. Only 1% (2 people) had a different opinion and stated that they were not satisfied with the organization of the Half Marathon in Poznan at the level of 9.2 points on a 10-point scale. It proves high social support for this sporting event among the examined group of people and even if the disadvantages are perceived by the local community—they are most likely not very onerous and short-lived (of which the respondents probably realize).

Research on the 6th Poznan Half Marathon supporters (*n* = 256) found that 62.5% said that the Half Marathon caused bothersome traffic jams in the city but 37.5% (160) thought differently (Table 4). The supporters decided that the Half Marathon causes traffic jams in the city with an average severity of 5.5 points on a 10-point Likert scale. Moreover, less than 10% of the surveyed fans found that the Half Marathon caused inadequate behavior of the fans in the city. However, 90.6% of supporters had different opinions. The scale of inappropriate behavior of fans was estimated at 3.8 points on average (*n* = 24).

Only 7% of surveyed fans found that the Half Marathon causes an increase in crime in the city. Most of them (93%) had a different opinion. Fans who rated the rise in crime in the city (*n* = 18) thanks to a Half Marathon at an average of 3.3 points on a 10-point scale. The supporters' responses were almost unanimous and 98.4% (*n* = 252) attest to their satisfaction with the organization of the Half Marathon in Poznan. Only 1.6% (4 people) of supporters were not satisfied with this. The fans' satisfaction with the organization of the Half Marathon in Poznan were on average at the level of 8.8 points.

Authors have researched 308 Cavaliada—an international equestrian event—supporters. Studies have shown that 31.5% of them (97 people) think that the event causes onerous communication difficulties on average at 4.5 points on Likert scale (Table 5). In the case of Half Marathon fans, 62.5% of respondents answered yes (average level—5.5 points). Therefore, the Half Marathon made public transport much more difficult than Cavaliada.

**Table 5.** Negative effects of organizing sporting events in Pozna ´n in the opinion of residents— Cavaliada Fans.

**Table 5.** *Cont*.

Source: Own work on the basis of test results, N = 308.

Respondents were asked a question: *"Does Cavaliada cause inappropriate behavior of fans in the city (e.g., loud behavior, fights e.g.)?"* and 6.2% of them said Cavaliada caused inappropriate supporter behavior in the city (on average 4.2 points on Likert scale). In the case of the Half Marathon, 9.4% of supporters said yes. Only 5.2% of Cavaliada fans said that this event increase in crime in the city (on average 3.3 points). In the case of the Half Marathon, 7% of supporters said yes. The supporters declared their satisfaction with the organization of the Cavaliada event in Poznan. Only 2% (6 persons) of supporters were not satisfied with this. The fans' satisfaction with the organization of the Half Marathon in Poznan were on average at the level of 9.4 points. The fans' satisfaction with the organization of the Half Marathon in Poznan were on average at the level of 8.8 points.

From the point of view of the conducted analysis, it proved important to check the difference between the two examined groups of respondents: Half Marathon fans and Cavaliada fans, among those who answered YES—the average level of dissatisfaction significantly different between the analyzed groups (Likert scale 1–10). For this purpose, Chi-square test and U Mann Whitney's test was used:
