Author(s): ROUSSEL, E., YAO, P.L., GHANEMI, A., BRISSON, J., MARCEAU, C., TRUDEAU, F., GUIMARÃES, R., Institution: UNIVERSITÉ DU QUÉBEC À TROIS-RIVIÈRES, Country: CANADA, Abstract-ID: 1525

INTRODUCTION:
INTRODUCTION: In Canada, a limited number of studies have examined the impact of multisport events on the local population’s intention to engage in physical activity (PA) and sports participation. Understanding such impact is especially important for adolescents as their lifelong activity habits are still being formed. This study aims to assess the potential effect of the 2025 Summer Québec Games finals on adolescents’ intentions to engage in PA and sports participation. We specifically aim to 1) assess adolescents’ baseline use of sports facilities, their intentions to engage in physical and sports activities, and their PA level and sedentary time; 2) explore longitudinal correlations among sports facility use, intentions to engage in physical and sports activities, and perceived motivators for leisure-time PA before and after the event.
METHODS:
METHODS: This observational longitudinal study targeted secondary school students from the region hosting the 2025 Summer Québec Games finals. Participants were adolescents who did not take part in the Games as athletes. A total of 117 students (38% boys) completed an online self-administered questionnaire at baseline (T1, spring 2025, pre-finals) and 45 of them who completed follow-up (T2, fall 2025, post-finals) were included in the longitudinal analyses. Measures included socio-demographic characteristics; use of and access to sports facilities; intentions to engage in physical and sports activities; perceived motivators for leisure-time physical activity (PA) (EQAPS 2018–2019 items); PA level (PAQ-C/PAQ-A); and sedentary time (Canadian Health Measures Survey, Cycle 6). Measures of central tendency and dispersion, Pearson or Spearman correlations, and analyses of variance were conducted (SPSS 28, IBM) for statistical analyses.
RESULTS:
RESULTS: At baseline, participants were 14.6 ± 3.3 years old; 78% rated their health as very good/excellent; moderate-to-vigorous physical activity averaged 1.7 ± 1.0 h/day and sedentary time 0.6 ± 0.6 h/day. Overall, 75% used municipal sports facilities and more than 90% engaged in some PA. Lack of time was the main barrier and improving fitness the primary motivator. Longitudinally, T1 facility use correlated with T2 PA/sport practice (r = .45, p<.001); T1 intention to use facilities was moderately correlated with T2 intention for PA/sport (r = .44, p<.001); T1 preference for sedentary behavior was moderately correlated with T2 intention for PA/sport (r = .53, p<.001); and T1 motivation was correlated with T2 intention for PA/sport (r = .38, p<.005).
CONCLUSION:
CONCLUSION: The 2025 Summer Québec Games finals showed no significant effect on adolescents’ intentions to engage in PA and sports participation. Pre-event factors (facility use and intention to use, PA motivation, preference for sedentary behavior) seem to be the main predictors of post-event intentions and practice.