Assessing the Societal Value of Sports Engagement: Evidence to Support Active Living as Intrinsic to Sustainable Asian Urbanization

Abstract

The rapid expansion of urban areas has exacerbated public health challenges including non-communicable diseases and reduced well-being. To address such issues, integrating community needs into urban planning through the ‘healthy cities’ concept has gained prominence. While literature recognizes associations between physical activity, health and social progress, limited research examines the multidimensional impacts of sports participation across diverse Asian settings. This study aimed to analyze the effects of sports engagement on health and sustainability indicators among urban Asian populations. A mixed-methods approach combined surveys of 87 residents aged 18-65 years in three group with stakeholder discussions. Relationships between recreational involvement, self-rated health, behaviors, quality of life, infrastructure usage and community participation were examined through statistical tests. Regular physical activity was significantly correlated with improved health status, well-being, social networks and infrastructure provision. Access to sports facilities near residences, public spaces and workplaces best predicted activity levels. Unexpectedly, women and older adults exhibited comparable or higher involvement than counterparts. Residents of Group A, despite infrastructure barriers, demonstrated the highest frequencies. Grassroots initiatives temporarily utilizing public areas cost-effectively encouraged participation. Recognizing recreation holistically within urban planning empowers inclusive progress. Evidence supports mainstreaming affordable, equitable sports provision as basic urban infrastructure. Continued research elucidating participation determinants guides equitable strategies maximizing recreational roles in building healthy, equitable Asian communities amid transformations. As urbanization intensifies health challenges, participatory sports hold untapped potential for cultivating thriving communities if embedded comprehensively within developmental visions prioritizing populace wellness.