INFLUENCE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES AS MEGA-EVENT ON URBANIZATION PROCESSES IN THE CITY AND THE REGION

Abstract

In recent decades, the Olympic Games have become one of the most important mega-events in the world. The large number of cities applying for the Olympics and the increase in mega-event budgets indicate that the leadership of cities and regions perceive the possibility of holding the Olympics as a tool to improve economic and social aspects in cities by accumulating investment.
 Since its inception, the Olympic Games have closely influenced urbanization processes in host societies. From the second half of the 20th century, a significant evolution can be observed via increasing the scale of the mega-event: from the Olympic mono-stadium to the Olympic quarter, urban and regional planning. Thus, the Olympics began to provide investment not only in sports infrastructure but also in becoming an element of urban and regional renewal and development, introducing changes in transport infrastructure, housing, parks, streets, public space.
 From the point of view of urban and regional planning, the holding of such a mega-event as the Olympics is considered within the concept of the Olympic heritage; namely, researchers study the material impact of mega-events. The tangible Olympic legacy is divided into sports and non-sports. The sports heritage of mega-events includes sports facilities, as well as training facilities. The non-sporting heritage of the mega-event includes the Olympic Villages (after the mega-event, the Olympic Village usually becomes the city's housing stock), the media center (which has the potential to become a shopping, entertainment, exhibition, or multicenter), renewed transport infrastructure and public and park spaces, urban environment.
 Especially for cities hosting a mega-event, the benefits of hosting the Olympics can be vast and varied. In the post-Fordism world, cities began to consider the possibility of holding the Olympics as a tool for the revival of the city. Such applications can be called "regeneration games". The Olympic Games can be part of a strategic plan to renovate the city, significantly change the urban environment, improve transport infrastructure, and affect the quality of life in the city. However, the mega-event can have a negative impact on the city, forming an overuse of funds or the implementation of unnecessary infrastructure of the city, which declines after the Olympics.