Because the European Para Championships was not merely a one-off sporting event, the organization found it crucial to conduct thorough research into the critical factors of success. To achieve this, they enlisted the renowned Mulier Institute to carry out an independent evaluation report. This comprehensive study focused on key aspects such as findings, feedback, and areas for improvement for various stakeholders including partners, athletes, staff, visitors, media partners, sports federations, volunteers, and residents of the host city, Rotterdam.
Objectives of the study:
The objective of its study was twofold:
- Evaluating EPC 2023 through the perspective of seven target/stakeholder groups.
- Inventory of the activities organized around EPC 2023 in the Netherlands.
The results offer lessons for the future. Lessons for the European Para Championships as well as for the Dutch sports events sector in general.
Most important conclusions:
Overall, the EPC 2023 was widely regarded as a big success by all involved parties. Athletes, staff, visitors, and volunteers rated the event highly, with scores of 8.5 or above out of 10. The majority of participants expressed gratitude, feeling proud to be part of the event, and many preferred it over separate European Championships. Additionally, a significant portion of residents supported municipal investment in the event.
National and international sports federations praised the opportunities provided by EPC 2023 to promote their sports, especially highlighting the enthusiasm for the City Centre Courts concept.
Partners were impressed by the extensive reach of EPC 2023 content, particularly on platforms like TikTok. The synergy between sports contributed to its visibility, with high-quality and freely available content attracting large audiences.
The many (social) activities arranged around EPC 2023 demonstrated great potential, garnering very positive feedback. However, there is still room for heightened impact. To achieve this, it is crucial for key social partners to clearly define their roles and level of commitment from the outset.
The main conclusion is that the EPC 2023 is very well received by all stakeholders but there were areas identified for improvement too. There was no benchmark and therefore objectives for the inaugural edition were formulated at a general level, making it sometimes challenging to evaluate their achievement objectively. With the information that has been gained and the lessons learned a proper benchmark for the future edition can be made.
Recommendations:
Expanding on the 2023 European Para Championships offers valuable insights for future events and the upcoming edition of the European Para Championships, despite their varied locations and contexts. Retaining strengths like the City Centre Courts, volunteer support, impactful social media campaigns and top-notch organization is essential. However, challenges such as varying sport appeal, scheduling conflicts, and communication gaps need addressing to fully maximize the incredible potential of para top sport events in Europe.
Quantitative assessment
- Overall evaluation EPC 2023 by athletes 8.5
- Overall evaluation EPC 2023 by staff 8.5
- Overall evaluation EPC 2023 by visitors 8.5
- Overall evaluation EPC 2023 by volunteers 8.6
- Evaluation helpfulness volunteers by athletes 8.8
- Evaluation food and drinks by athletes 6.3
- Evaluation helpfulness volunteers by visitors 8.9
- Evaluation food and drinks by visitors 5.9
- Extent to which expectations by athletes were met or exceeded 94%
- Extent to which expectations by staff were met or exceeded 94%
- Extent to which expectations by visitors were met or exceeded 96%
- Extent to which athletes prefer EPC instead of separate ECs 68%
- Extent to which staff prefer EPC instead of separate ECs 74%
- Extent to which athletes felt proud to participate in EPC 2023 85%
- Extent to which staff felt proud to participate in EPC 2023 88%
About the Mulier Institute:
The Mulier Institute, an independent non-profit foundation, conducts research on sports-related themes for various stakeholders, from governments to businesses. Its areas of study range from sports participation among Dutch citizens to the economic impact of sports events. The Institute aims to inform policies that promote sports and physical activity while strengthening the sports sector.
