Systematic review synthesizes knowledge on volunteer sport tourism, suggesting theoretical and practical implications.
Key Points
This review explores the evolution and practical implications of volunteer sport tourism, aiming to address its fragmentation across disciplines.
Systematic literature review following PRISMA 2020 guidelines
Included 32 studies on volunteers traveling to sporting events published from 1974 to 2025
Narrative synthesis and analytical mapping table used to integrate findings.
Identified five dominant themes: motivations, volunteer experiences and satisfaction, economic and social impacts, organisational and management perspectives, and destination and legacy dimensions.
Proposed an integrated tripartite framework for linking volunteer antecedents, event experiences, and legacy outcomes.
Provided practical recommendations for event organisers, policymakers, and destination stakeholders.