Introduction

Abstract

Volunteers are an integral component of sport events throughout the world (Cuskelly et al. 2006; Kemp 2002). Sport and event managers must therefore understand the motives and experiences of volunteers in order to effectively recruit, retain, and manage volunteers. Western countries such as Australia and the United States have a strong history of hosting events that utilize a considerable number of volunteers. Events such as the Olympic Games have been recognized as a potential impetus for a volunteering career (Fairley et al. 2014, 2016) and therefore may increase the interest in volunteering in the host country. There is an increasing trend for Asian countries to host sport events (Dolles and Soderman 2008). With increased event hosting, there is an increasing need for volunteers (Kim et al. 2010). Research, however, suggests that there are significant differences between how volunteering is perceived and conceptualized in different countries and cultures (Fairley et al. 2013; Handy et al. 2000; Halsall et al. 2016). While large-scale events rely on volunteers regardless of where they are held, the prevalence of volunteering both in relation to sport and society varies by country.  This book examines the cultural environment in which volunteering takes place by identifying the ways in which volunteering is conceptualized, valued, and enacted in different countries.