The Vancouver 2010 Olympics and leisure-time physical activity rates among youth in Canada: any evidence of a trickle-down effect?

Using nationally representative data from the Canadian Community Health Survey, we explored if the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics were associated with leisure-time physical activity rates among youth in Canada. No statistically significant changes were observed in the rate of moderately active/active youth in Canada or the province of British Columbia (BC) over the two-year time periods under investigation. At the regional level however, a significant increase in the rate of moderately active/active females from 2007–2008 (pre-event) to 2009–2010 (the year prior to the event and the year the event was staged) was observed in the Richmond, BC, health region (z = 2.05, p = .04). Previous conclusions that trickle-down effects do not occur are not supported by our data. Instead, we conclude that trickle-down effects may in fact occur, but may tend to be localised within certain communities (i.e. close to where Olympic events are staged) and among particular segments of a population.