Sport Supporters and Playful Behavior at Events: Ski Flying in Planica

In this study, we investigate the playful behavior among ski flying supporters at the World Cup final in Planica, Slovenia, in 2022. Collected data consisted of interviews and observations as we traveled with a group of Norwegian supporters. In addition, we also interviewed supporters from four other European countries together with numerous informal talks with people attending the event. Using Bakhtin’s framework of the carnivalesque, findings show three major themes: transgressions from everyday life; the location of the support activities; and the suppression of structure. Together, these themes of playful behavior and breaking away from daily routines with friends highlight how attending sports events enhances individual supporter well-being. This, in turn, can act as a catalyst for social cohesion and inclusion, ultimately having a broader societal impact.