The Long-Term impact of sports events on host cities and countries

Abstract

The goal of this study is to understand the impact that Mega sport events have on the cities and countries that host them. Large-scale sports events, often referred to as mega events, have significant economic and social impacts on their host countries. This thesis takes a global perspective, with a particular focus on Nordic countries, with concerns to sustainability of these events. A qualitative approach is used to analyze the impacts.

These events mobilize not only sports fans but also policymakers, investors, and global media outlets. Their importance is justified by expectations of tourism growth and infrastructural modernization. It is reasonable to affirm that mega sports events are never just about sport, but rather how much a city offers (risk) with the promise of possible long-term gains.

The main finding is that the effect of mega events can change depending on many factors; short term benefits are commonly seen on immediate tourist and economic burst; but long-term effects are harder to evaluate, and often contradictory points have been studied.