Illegitimately pursuing legitimacy: critical conversations of sport mega events hosting and bidding

Abstract

There have been increased efforts from emerging global powers to bid for and win the hosting rights for SMEs as key elements of broader campaigns to showcase their cultures and economies on the world stage. Yet, some have expressed concerns over emerging countries’ capacity to host SMEs due to economic constraints, questions of institutional stability, and labour issues. The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the pursuit of international legitimacy through the hosting of SMEs. Specifically, the authors are concerned with the impacts of illegitimate practices on vulnerable populations and how illegitimate practices undermine the positive impacts and legacies of SMEs. Drawing upon the case of Qatar and the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the authors theorise the illegitimacy of practices implemented for securing the right to host the event and the preparations of the country’s sport infrastructure, thereby highlighting the dichotomy of pursuing national legitimacy through illegitimate means.