Exploring Ex Ante Impacts and Social and Sportive Challenges of Hosting a Future New International Major Event: a Case Study of the World Roller Games in Barcelona

Abstract

This analysis arises from the decision of the current local council of Barcelona regarding the post-ponement of the sporting mega-event "World Roller Games," due to a lack of a social and sportive implication in this event. This research tries to shed some light on the matter and give evidence to the local council to become the world capital of skating. The research question is to analyze whether non-economic impacts could be relevant enough to organize a mega-event. The methodology is based on the perception and experience of spectators and participants on four main impacts (social, economic, sports city image, and sports practice) using a survey from a National Roller Skating Championship in Spain, considering that this profile of respondents have a better knowledge of the current situation of this sport. There are positive expected future consequences of this mega-event to be held in Barcelona in social and sportive terms. We can also conclude that the local council must still introduce some social and sportive policies in the city in order to improve the chances of success in social, sports practice, and sportive brand image development. It is demonstrated that a mega-event should not be seen purely from a perspective of business generation, especially with minority sports like roller skating. There is a clear opportunity to develop social and sportive practice initiatives that can push social cohesion throughout the city thanks to a mega-event such as this one.