Stakeholders in venues of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games: a critical analysis

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify and classify stakeholders in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic venues and to examine the stakeholders’ interest demands and work relationships with other entities as they pursue effective strategies of cooperative governance. We conducted an extensive literature review, analyzed documents related to the Games and other related international sporting events, investigated the financial statements of the 2022 Games venues, and used semi-structured interviews (n = 7) to address the research questions. Findings show that key stakeholders in venues for the 2022 Games include the following: central government, local government, International Olympic Committee, organizing committee of the 2022 Games, financial investors, infrastructure builders, event operators, financing companies, marketing firms, media companies, professional experts, non-governmental organizations, and the general public. The conflicts among stakeholders exist between government departments and market players, between government departments and the social public, and between the central government and local governments. Internal and external conflicts exist in contractual relationships, internal contractual relationships, and operational contractual relationships. Resolving these issues is necessary to enhance the effectiveness of venue operations and preparedness for the 2022 Games.