We play the same game but do we share the same passion? A comparison of French and Australian emotional reactions during sport events

Abstract

Despite their omnipresence in sports events and their key role in attracting patrons to sporting events, sport-related emotions have not been extensively studied. Examining the two dimensions of valence and intensity, this paper compares the emotional response of two groups of French and Australian spectators during two major events of the world tennis calendar: Roland Garros and the Australian Open. This paper provides evidence that French and Australian patrons experienced comparable emotions, and explains the differences observed. Contrary to our expectations, the data reveals that emotions affect the formation of attitude toward both events differently.