Optimising the potential of mega‐events: an overview

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to examine the reasons that mega-events rarely realise their potential for host destinations and to suggest issues that need to be addressed in rectifying this issue. Design/methodology/approach -The paper is based on a synthesis of the literature as well as the substantial event-related experience of the authors. Findings -The key reason that mega-events do not generate the expected benefits for the host destination is that event organisers and destination managers adopt a short-term perspective rather than seeing mega-events as part of a long-term strategy for the destination. Even the planned legacies are often not realised as resource constraints in the lead up to the staging of the event often results in resources being shifted away from planning for legacies and being allocated to helping cover the more immediate needs of the event.Research limitations/implications -If the mega-event knowledge portal that is proposed in this paper to help improve the overall contribution that mega-events make to host destinations is developed, it will prove to be a fertile source of data for longitudinal research in the field of mega-events. Originality/value -As so many mega-events fail to deliver the expected benefits for the host destination, this paper provides some useful insights into the key issues that need to be addressed in order to help overcome this problem.

The nation branding opportunities provided by a sport mega-event: South Africa and the 2010 FIFA World Cup

“…However, more recently, studies have questioned the positive benefits from events and the equity of their distribution. Weed and Bull (2009) suggest that the event impacts framework may be outmoded and, supported by a number of other authors (Chalip 2004;Dickinson & Shipway 2007;Jago, Dwyer, Lipman, Van Lill & Vorster, 2010), indicate that a new focus with an emphasis on leveraging may be more applicable.…”

The Mega-Event Syndrome: Why So Much Goes Wrong in Mega-Event Planning and What to Do About It

“…A few studies suggest that mega-events can create an economic benefi t to host cities (Gratton, Shibli, & Coleman, 2005), and that cities and countries can leverage them to improve their image and empower community action (Chalip, 2006;Grix, 2012). A focus on planning for the legacies of mega-events-what is left after the eventhas served to reinforce the idea that mega-events can be positive forces for urban development (Holt & Ruta, 2015;Jago, Dwyer, Lipman, van Lill, & Vorster, 2012).…”

Untitled

“…Another example estimated that the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Organizing Committee invested more than it made to prepare for the event and ran a deficit of C$48.1 million in 2008 ("Olympics," 2008). In addition to the negative economic impacts, additional costs such as security issue of hosting mega sporting events have enormously increased in recent years after the event of September 11, 2001 and the consequences of such possible problems also caused physical protection programs in event facilities to become a critical infrastructure issue (Appelbaum, Adeland, & Harris, 2005;Atkinson & Young, 2002;Jago, Dwyer, Lipman, van Lill, & Vorster, 2010;Taylor & Toohey, 2007).…”

“…www.efsupit.ro 354 increase in the media coverage during the period 3 is somewhat natural because it is quite safe to assume that both Korean national and local newspapers aggressively started to promote the event (Ritchie et al, 2009) and host city (Jago et al, 2010) as the event D-day is approaching. Particularly, as the final roster for each participating country and schedules for each sport become finalized, "fact" (27.7%) which can promote the Asian Games became available through newspapers during this period.…”

“…Second, media can be used as a tool for promoting the host city of a mega sporting event (Jago, Dwyer, Lipman, &Vorster, 2010). For the host countries of mega sporting events, promoting their countries as a tourism destination is a significant objective of hosting mega sporting events.…”