Implications of hosting a major sporting events for a city/ country

What does hosting a sport event include

• Host for a major sporting event is a huge undertaking

• Years of planning and often building and venues are especially built

Features of major sporting events

• Regular competition is held to determine the world champion

• Organised by the the international federation and format varies depending on a number of entrants and length tournament

Types of major sporting events

• one off

• Regular

• Regular and recurring

One off

• Will only happen in any given country/city once in a generation

• Olympics and Paralympics

Regular

• Which a city could host more than once in a relatively short period of time but it is shared around as a rule

• UEFA Champions League Final

Regular and recurring

• Annual and is normally contracted for a period of years to host country / city

• Formula 1 British Grand Prix

• Wimbledon tennis championship

• The master golf tournament

International element

Involves competitors and therefore supporters interest, from more than one country

Olympic Games

• Global event attracting huge media coverage & best athletes in the world

• Happens every 4 years

Legacy

Something that happens as a result of something that has already happened

Sporting

Participation rates in the sport/ exercise in general within the country/city

Social

The morale of the nation,does the event bring people together socially?

Economic

The money made from the event to help stabilise and improve the country

Process of hosting a sports event

• Hosting a major sporting events begins with a bidding process

• Run up to this the city/country faces a number of positives/ negatives

Positives of hosting

• City that wins the event will hold a certain amount of ‘kudos’ and may be once in a lifetime

• Promote city/country

• Generate a sense of national pride

• Sponsorships

• Development of infrastructure

Negatives of hosting

• Bid is high costly beyond (£100 million)

• Bid money may be better used on improving other aspects of the city (school,hospitals)

• Some events make a loss and therefore bid money will not be recovered

What pays for bid money

Tourist money that comes after will pay for bidding

Infrastructure and transport systems

• Improves transport or city infrastructure

• Regenerate the area- help poorer areas with housing & facilities

• Wanting to be the host can increase taxation

• Building work can cause disruption to host city

• Country may be internationally shamed for paying labourers less

Financial/commercial investment/ support

• Investment generated at governmental level

• Boost tourism and income into the country

• More short term jobs

• Financial risk - money from bidding process cannot be reversed

• Government may find it difficult to persuade the citizens of the country that it is worth it

Potential for increased employment

• Construction firms and workers will have increased employment opportunities on a large scale

• Jobs like marketing communications and security will be needed

• Huge undertaking to find the number of relevant workers to futile all the votes

• All employed must be checked to ensure the safety of site and event area

Local/national objection to the bidding process

• Local facilities will improve in the host city

• Transports links likely to improve

• May be protest and political arguments about the cost and potential taxation rises

• Some part of the country may feel that this only benefits the host city

Where does most the funding come from

70% of funding for World Cup comes from public revenue

During the event the positives the country has

• Increased media coverage

• Direct and indirect tourism

Negatives of during events the country faces

• Increased crowding,population,litter and noise

• Potential for increased terrorism and crime

• Negative media coverage/scandal can affect credibility

Post event legacy positives

• Raises the profile of the sport and leads to more grassroots participation

• New and regenerated sporting venues which leaves a positive legacy for years after

• Increased social development and well-being of a nation

London 2012

Continuing to touch lives and benefit communities living around the Olympic park

Developments for hosting that the country faces

• Housing

• Venue use of the public

• West Ham FC use of the Olympic Stadium

Post event legacy negatives

• Lost financially

• Unused sporting facilities- poor planning leads to venues remaining closed or demolished

• Loss of national reputation