Venturing Beyond the Marathon: The Entrepreneurship of Ultrarunning and the IAU World Cup in Korea

Siri Terjesen

No 2008-010, Jena Economics Research Papers from Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena

Abstract: This article describes the entrepreneurial development and professionalism of ultradistance running (ultrarunning) in South Korea, culminating with the hosting of the IAU World Cup 100K in 2006. This case study-based research provides evidence of various macro-environmental and individual drivers of a grassroots entrepreneurial process, contextualised in Korea's sporting culture. Macro-environmental factors include the economic crisis and Korean cultural values of comradery, emotional expressiveness and entrepreneurial spirit. At the individual level, self-leadership, focus, persistence, team dynamics and access to resources explain the growth of ultrarunning and the commitment to hosting the IAU World Cup. Implications for sports entrepreneurship and grassroots-initiated mega-sporting events in Asia are discussed.

Keywords: Athletics; Entrepreneurship; Korea; Mega-Sporting Event; Self-Leadership; Ultramarathon; Ultrarunning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L26 M13 N85 N95 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008-01-30
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-sea and nep-spo
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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