Egalitaryzm sportu amatorskiego? Przykład polskiego ruchu biegowego

Abstract

In the paper the problem of Polish running social movement (as a kind of expressive movement, according to Jan Szczepański) is investigated in the perspective of egalitarianism and different social categories’ representation. The growth of running’s popularity may be observed in Poland as well as a specific catchword (or even cultural cliché) proclaiming that running is a kind of sport activity that may be undertaken by everyone, irrespectively of sex, age and wealth. Moreover, the development of long-distance running contests (amateur-opened, taking place on streets in the formula of mass event) is to be noticed. The paper presents results of an own research referring to this sociological phenomena. The survey – conducted in April 2013 – covered 865 participants of Łódź Marathon Dbam o Zdrowie. Collected and presented data shows to what extend specific social categories (sex, age, education, financial situation and marital status) may explain the individual’s readiness to participate in Polish running social movement. Information of countrywide researches describing the sport activity of citizens in Poland is also presented, in order to operate proper comparisons.