Author(s): CHEN, X., LI, S., ZHOU, L., Institution: GUANGZHOU SPORT UNIVERSITY, Country: CHINA, Abstract-ID: 2116

Purpose – Hong Kong is a highly prosperous international metropolis and a free port, one of the worlds three major financial centers, and a significant hub for international trade and innovative technology. It is a blending place of eastern and western cultures. Studying the national identity of Hong Kong residents holds significant practical importance.Take the 15th National Games of china that the State Councils approval of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao to co-host as an example, this study explored the antecedent Influencing factors affecting national identity of Hong Kong residents before the 15th National Games of china.
Methods – Based on the overall framework of "Stimulus→Organism→Response" of S-O-R theory, focused on Hong Kong residents, takes social exchange theory and social identity theory as theoretical perspectives. 383 valid questionnaires were collected from Hong Kong residents by convenient sampling method. Amos 26.0 software was used to build the structural equation model, estimate (standardize), and compare the path coefficient, significance and fitting index. Hypothesis based on the research model: (a)H1: The Perception of positive outcome (POP) formed by Hong Kong residents before the 15th National Games of china will positively influence the event support (ES). (b)H2: The Perception of negative outcome (NOP) formed by Hong Kong residents before the 15th National Games of china will negatively influence ES. (c)H3: POP will positively influence national identity (NI). (d)H4: NOP will negatively influence NI. (e)H5: ES will positively influence NI.
Results and Findings – The results support all hypotheses, with POP and ES (=0.324, p＜0.001), being positively correlated, and POP having a positive effect on NI (=0.461, p＜0.001), supporting H1, H3, respectively. NOP on ES (=-0.239, p＜0.001) and NOP on NI (=-0.267, p＜0.001) both were negatively correlated, supporting H2, H4, respectively. ES on NI (=0.134, p＜0.05), being positively correlated, supporting H5. Perception of positive outcome had positive effects on event support and national identity; Perception of negative outcome had negative effects on event support and national identity; event support had positive effects on national identity. Among them, event support are direct influences on national identity, while Perception of positive and negative outcome indirectly influences national identity through event support.
Discussion – The results revealed the relationship between Perception of positive outcome, Perception of negative outcome, event support and national identity. The findings indicate that POP significantly boost residents ES and NI, highlighting the crucial role of mega-event in enhancing national consciousness and ethnic pride. NOP have a detrimental effect on ES and NI, reflecting the impact of mega-event and social issues on NI. Additionally, there is a positive relationship between ES and NI, suggesting that ES may translate into NI. Taken together, the findings of this study highlight the significant potential of major sporting events to enhance national identity. These findings not only provide a novel perspective for the academic community, but also provide practical guidance for policy makers, sporting event organizers, and administrators on how to use sporting events as a means to promote social harmony and national identity.