Abstract

An executive literature review was conducted to explore the area of extreme sports to guide and provide definition and framework for this research project. This research focuses on defining factors of extreme sports development and their compliance in Lithuania. Research target: development of extreme sports as a recreational activity. Research purpose was explore the defining factors of extreme sports development as a recreational activity in Lithuania. Research challenges: to describe the concept of recreational service; to define the concept of extreme sports; to analyze the defining features of extreme sports; to determine the development assumptions of extreme sports as recreational activity. Research instrument – interview questionnaire. Interview questions based on previous studies on similar topics, in order to better understand extreme sports identity: who are the participants, why they engaged in this activity, their views and opinions, as well as if they are in contact with one another and with organizations (activity-related and not). Questions classified into different topics in order to gather information about the participants: Motivation to engage in activities; Experiences related to participation; Risk and safety issues related to participation; Views and opinions of the chosen sport evolution and development; Knowledge and experience in the coordination of activities through organizations and associations; Sociability, lifestyle and methods of communication between them and the other participants in the external environment. Summarizing the results, it can be said that recreational activity is defined as different kind of services provided to those willing to take part in a recreational activity. Main feature – free human choice. Recreational services are being established by recreational objects – land, workforce, stocks, buildings, equipment and investments into final product. Extreme sports structural elements: real or perceived danger, action takes place in outdoor environment, the outcome of activity is unknown but dependent on the participant. Extreme sports are being divided according the level of risk – from high to low. Extreme sports are being divided to: reinterpretation of conventional sport, new activities, extreme practices of conventional sports, emerging sports. Features of extreme sports – historically recent phenomenon; majority of participant are not professionals; influence of new technologies; activity is a part of life style; individual approach to activity; no competitiveness but an element of risk; takes place in outdoor environment; mixture of different sports; strong psychological feature; external forces are grater that inner. Identified development assumptions of extreme sports – innovation of technology; increased public awareness of sports; social influences; the increasing influence of representative groups. Verf.-Referat