It is an extremely powerful idea that experiencing the performance of a world‐leading athlete can
directly and positively impact on people’s inclination towards their own participation in sporting activity.
The concept of an inspirational effect in sport is appealing as it defines a system that is connected from
top to bottom. The idea of inspiration is perfectly suited to sport – no other activity combines such a
structured hierarchy to identify the best in the world with such a sophisticated global media network to
communicate this. Inspiration is often cited as the reason why national sporting achievement and major
sporting events are so important. It is therefore surprising that more is not known about the ways in
which people are inspired by sporting achievement.