Károly Teperics

The Changing Role of Sports in Urban Development: A Case Study of Debrecen (Hungary)

In the last few decades, researchers are paying more and more attention to study the connections between sports and urban development. The main purpose of this study is to examine the changing role of sports in urban development through the example of Debrecen and to present the differences between the various historical periods. As a result, it can be concluded that on the one hand, in the inter-war years and in the period after 2000, the broader influence of sports was recognised, and local government made special efforts to use sports for the development of local economy, as well as for the improvement of the image of the city. By contrast, in the period between 1945 and 1990, the main approach used was from the side of mass sports, with satisfying the needs of workers and the general population deemed as the most important. On the other hand, from the early 1930s, i.e. from the beginning of urban planning (with the exception of the period during World War II and the 1950s), the leaders of the city paid special attention to ensure that sports facilities be included in the local development plans of Debrecen.

The Theoretical Background of Local Sport Policy in Hungary: Sport Concepts of Hungarian Cities of County Rank

The Theoretical Background of Local Sport Policy in Hungary: Sport Concepts of Hungarian Cities of County Rank In line with international trends, we could also observe in Hungary beginning in the late 1990s increasing attention given by local governments to sports. Hungarian provisions of law related to sports (including, in particular, Act I of 2004 on sports) put local governments in charge of some very important tasks. Among other things, local governments were to determine the local concept of sports development and to ensure its implementation, cooperate with local sports organizations and sports associations, and as owners maintain and operate the sports facilities. In light of the above facts, the study analyzes the sport concepts adopted by the local governments of the Hungarian cities of county rank and tries to find the answers to the following questions: 1. To what extent are the documents concerned in accordance with the requirements usually drafted for the development concepts and which platforms they involve?; 2. To what extent did the local governments recognize the relationship between the sports and place marketing on the level of concept-making? As a conclusion of the study, the following significant establishments can be made: 1. Comparing the existing sport concepts with the general requirements of the development concepts, a large number of deficiencies can be observed; 2. The areas mentioned in the situation-analysis part of these documents are in close relationship with the importance of the topics concerned; 3. The local governments of the cities of county rank decisively recognized the role of sports in place marketing.