Major Event and Festival Impacts

1. Major Event and Festival Impacts Lecture 10: Sporting Mega Events

2. Defining Mega Events • Mega events can be viewed in two main ways: • Internal characteristics • External characteristics • More specifically, Roche (2000) claims that the degree of media interest in an event will effectively define it • Mega events are claimed to have an extra ordinary impact on the host area • Mega sporting events include specialist world level international sports competitions and world regional level versions of these events

3. The Historical Development of Sporting Mega Events • Developments in sport during the 19th century at national and international levels provided the impetus for the development of sporting mega events • Both the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup are based on British sporting ethics • Association with amateurism • Demonstration rather than competition • An alternative to physical aggression? • The rules and ideals of these events were heavily fashioned by the male elite during the late 19th and early 20th centuries

4. Values and Morals • Sporting mega events are often associated (or at least were associated) with numerous values and morals. • For example, the Olympic Charter requires the IOC to support and promote: • The development of sport and sporting competition • The placing of sport at the ‘service of humanity’ • The regular celebration of the Olympic Games • Peace, the protection of human rights and opposition to discrimination • The involvement of women in sport as participants and administrators • Sports ethics • The spirit of fair play and the elimination of violence from sport • The fight against doping in sport • Prevention of danger to the health of athletes • Elimination of political or commercial abuse of sport and athletes • The social and professional future of athletes • The development of sport for all • Concern for environmental issues and sustainable development • The International Olympic Academy • Institutions which promote Olympic education

5. The Wider Significance of Sporting Mega Events • Sporting mega events were developed in line with the logic of capitalist modernity • As such, sporting mega events are central to late modern capitalist societies • They act as important elements in the orientation of nations to international global society • Are seen to offer numerous benefits to the host nation which may include: • Economic • Social • Place marketing

6. Hosting Mega Sporting Events • Historically mega sporting events have been hosted in western industrialised nations • However, developing nations increasingly recognise the benefits that can be gained from hosting such events and are therefore demanding the right to host these spectacles • We see that the costs of hosting sporting mega events are growing • Infrastructure costs are likely to be higher for developing nations • As is the opportunity cost…

7. Critiquing Mega Sporting Events • When looking at mega sporting events we can raise a number of concerns, particularly in relation to the power that governing bodies hold. Such criticisms may include: • Doping and drug use (e.g. cycling) • Suppression of information and manipulation of the press • Bribery and match fixing • The corruption of officials (e.g. receipt of gifts) • Selling out of events for commerical means • The selection of members who will cause the least trouble • The controversy and issues associated with hosting such events

8. The Future Of Sporting Mega Events • The end of the bid circus • Cost savings • The provision of ideal facilities • Management benefits • Not spreading the benefits • Environmental conditions • Host country politics • Choosing the permanent site