Impacts of the Olympic Games as mega-events

Malfas, M.; Theodoraki, E.; Houlihan, B.

Abstract

Mega sporting events can be defined by their impacts and complexity in organisation and delivery. This paper reviews the literature on the features of such events and, drawing particular examples from recent Olympic Games, it identifies the nature and extent of their impacts on the host country and community. These range from the political, social, economical, physical and cultural and can be negative as well as positive. The paper concludes that while the prospect of economic growth is the driving force behind bids for hosting the Olympic Games, the legacies that follow their hosting are difficult to quantify, prone to political interpretation and multifaceted.

Citation

Malfas, M., Theodoraki, E., & Houlihan, B. (2004). Impacts of the Olympic Games as mega-events. Proceedings of the ICE - Civil Engineering, 157(3), 209-220. https://doi.org/10.1680/muen.2004.157.3.209

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 29, 2004
• Online Publication Date: May 25, 2015
• Publication Date: 2004-09
• Deposit Date: May 11, 2016
• Print ISSN: 0965-089X
• Electronic ISSN: 1751-7672
• Publisher: ICE Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 157
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 209-220
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1680/muen.2004.157.3.209
• Keywords: Recreational facilities; social impact; urban regeneration
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/10149
• Contract Date: May 11, 2016