Abstract:

Marathon is one of the fastest growing sports disciplines and it generally boasts a large number of participants from around the world. As the organization and management of large-scale running events poses a real challenge, risk evaluation should always precede the decision-making regarding the safety and precautionary measures. The purpose of the research was to identify and assess the risk factors of large-scale running events on the example of marathons organized in Poland. Fourteen of the largest marathons held in 2017 in Poland were considered in the study. Fifteen experts were questioned using the Delphi method to carry out the multistage identification of risk factors for organization of a large-scale run, while 31 practitioners - the representatives of marathon organizing teams - conducted the risk assessment. Considering the effect and likelihood of the appearance of an adverse event, the most important turned out to be risks related to the financing of marathons, organization issues, including the event start date, the acceptance of the local community, the organization of the finish line, delayed start, cyber security, disclosure of personal data and problems with the measurement of time. The obtained results may serve as reliable input data for the efficient risk management of sporting events (runs in particular). Professional risk management, based on the risk factors database worked out as a result of the research, may become a starting point to provide the highest possible level of safety and satisfaction for all the stakeholders involved in the event.