Does hosting a sports event make a nation more patriotic?

What is it about?

This study examines whether hosting the European basketball championship for men increased patriotic sentiments among the population of the host nation, Slovenia. It turns out there were no differences among the population as a whole. However, those who watched the event live or on television expressed higher nationalistic attitudes after the tournament.

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Why is it important?

This study does not indicate that watching sports makes one more patriotic: correlation is not the same as causation. Rather, those who are more strongly identified with a nation likely watch and/or attend such events more frequently.