The concept #SportiviDeGașcă (“sports buddies”), which defines this year’s edition of the Oltenia Marathon organized by Distribuție Oltenia, is supported by findings from the study “How Romanians train and what keeps them moving”, conducted by iVox Research.
The results show that although most Romanians train individually, group sports are associated with higher motivation, more energy, and a stronger sense of connection.
While health remains the main reason Romanians exercise—cited by 91% of respondents—the data highlights the important role of collective experiences in how sport is perceived and valued. These experiences bring social benefits and positively influence motivation and discipline.
Sport is mostly individual, but the strongest benefits come from group activity
More than 72% of respondents say they train alone, while only 13% exercise with a friend, 9% in small groups, and nearly 6% take part in organized training sessions or sports clubs.
However, when describing the benefits of group exercise, respondents point to clear advantages:
- 32% mention fun and social interaction
- over 25% highlight increased motivation
- 21% emphasize discipline and accountability
Nearly half say their performance improves significantly when training with others. After group workouts or sporting events, 41% feel more energized, and 22% report a stronger sense of connection. By contrast, when exercising alone, respondents say they miss exactly the elements that define the #SportiviDeGașcă concept: social connection, motivation, and fun.
Communities and events create bonds beyond performance
The study also shows that the social dimension increasingly influences participation in sports events. For 46% of respondents, the event atmosphere is an important factor, while 37% value the participation of friends.
Additionally:
- 38% say the energy and atmosphere would convince them to join with their group
- nearly 20% would be more motivated if their friends signed up
So far, 44% of respondents have exercised within a sports community, while another 16% would like to try such an experience. Among those who have participated, 41% maintained occasional contact with people they met, and over 20% formed genuine friendships.
August 29–30, 2026: An event reflecting how Romanians want to experience sport
This year’s edition of the Oltenia Marathon highlights sport as a shared experience.
“Sport takes on a different meaning when experienced together, and the study confirms this perspective. The #SportiviDeGașcă concept reflects how more and more Romanians relate to sport—as a social experience that brings a sense of belonging, shared energy, and the joy of overcoming challenges together. The data shows that when sport brings people together, both participation and the overall value of the experience increase,” said Ondrej Safar, CEO of Distribuție Oltenia.
