| Abstract: | The aim of this study is to construct a model to associate the influencing factors which impact the operation of the Public Sports Center so that it can be a reference guide for the planning and operation of the sports center.
The method of research employs in this study mixed pres-qualitative pilot survey and questionnaire collection, followed by a post quantitative analysis. Using a stratified sampling scheme, the pilot survey was conducted by interviewing the chief executive of the sports center, the coach, manager of the neighbor community around the public sport center, the residents, the customers, the associates related to the sports industry, and a manager of the Northern Sports Center.
Questionnaire was designed in accordance with the report of the pilot survey. Fifty percent of the questionnaires were for the 20-year-old or above residents who geographically covered within one kilometer radius from the North-Changhua Sport Center including Jianan Village, Ayi Village, Hediao Village, Wan'an Village, Xiabu Village and Yangming Village. With a minimum of 15 questionnaires per village, proportional to village’s population, a total of 120 questionnaires were collected.
Based on the popularity of the facility of the Public Sports Center, with a minimum of 15 questionnaires per facility, another 120 questionnaires were collected from the 20-year-old or above users of the Sports Center. A total of 240 questionnaires were collected in this study.
A model was constructed based on the pilot interviewing results and the literature reviews. The questionnaires collected were utilized to test the model. After quantitative analysis of the questionnaires, the study results showed that the resources and facility of sports center, the potential demands from the community, and how the entire society values the sports have significant correlation with the operation of the Public Sports Center. After the completion of the Public Sports Center, its operation has significant impact on the sport pattern and lifestyle, the surrounding economy, the social culture, and the environment.
Besides, this study found that the general public is lack of ethics in sport. Users with unethical behavior could destroy the integrity and lower the quality of the Public Sports Center, which will prevent other users from practice in the sports center. The operation department of the Public Sports Center should educate user the essential of ethics in sport and encourage user plays with ethical sporting behavior.
In addition, this study also found that the Public Sports Center has been one of the public space people choose to play with family or social with friends. Either for fun or for social activity, the Public Sports Center increases the interest of the general public exercise more often in their daily life.
In conclusion, using a constructed model, this study confirmed that the operation of the Public Sports Center was influenced by the resources and facility of the sports center, the potential demands from the community, and how the entire society values the sport. This model also validated the hypothesis that the operation the Public Sports Center is highly impacted by the economy of the surrounding neighbor, the social culture and the environment. |
