Examining Long-term Organizational Forms Surrounding Leverage and Legacy Delivery Of Canadian Major Sport Events

Abstract

This study explored the long-term organizational forms that are responsible for leverage and legacy delivery of major sport events. Comparative cases from the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games and the 2015 Toronto Pan Am/Parapan American Games were used to examine what mechanisms previous host cities have used. The findings from this study demonstrated that important organizational mechanisms contributing to strategic leveraging efforts included frequent collaboration from earliest point; distinction from the OC; the use of binding policy to maintain partnerships; clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and guidelines of conduct; and consistent, sustainable leadership. The collaborative nature of these organizational forms provided opportunities for organizations to increase their leveraging capacity. A conceptual framework for leveraging sustainable outcomes within the complex and multilayered nature of collaboration is also developed as a starting point for organizers looking to deliver lasting impacts from an event, as well as for scholars examining event legacy and/or leveraging strategies.