Abstract
Large-scale events, which are characterised by a dynamic complexity involving different national public administrations and institutional levels, require special attention in order to select adequate event management systems. Consequently, the analysis of a best practice event may be useful to identify the main variables, in terms of sustainable strategic planning, execution and control –required to achieve the greatest level of efficiency with regard to cost optimisation and quality of service delivery– along with exhorting the public sector to seek a structural renovation that makes better use of its available resources and fosters global sustainable growth. From this perspective, one such relevant experience has been the Italian case of the 2016 Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, coordinated by the Prefect of Rome. Indeed, the latter decided to adopt actions consistent with sustainability standards due to an inter-institutional network design and the engagement of institutions at different levels. Within a very short period, the Prefect of Rome achieved three main results: the coordination of the activities of the working groups, the integration of internal and external surveillance and communication systems, and collaboration with higher education institutions to acquire and disseminate knowledge. Accordingly, the aim of this paper is to describe and analyse this best practice event organised and managed by the Italian public administration with reference to the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To systemise and combine the outcomes of these processes, as well as to evaluate whether they were consistent with sustainable development, the systems thinking technique was used. This paper explores the concept of sustainable development and focuses on its traditional social, environmental and economic pillars within the context of planned events such as the 2016 Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy.
Highlights
Events, especially large-scale ones, produce several impacts on a territory, which are not exclusively economic in nature
The hospitality accorded to the visitors will be attentive, inclusive and relished in so far as both categories of institutions are able to work in synergy and harmony. In this regard, interesting theoretical inputs can be obtained from the analysis of the case study of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, which was held during the whole of 2016 and co-designed and co-organised by two national governments and involved the Catholic Church as a recognised universal international institution
The 2016 Holy Year will, be remembered as the first Jubilee 1) extraordinary and thematic, that is, dedicated to mercy; 2) decentralised and widespread; 3) digital because it was the first to take place in the era of social networks, tablets and smartphones; and 4) sustainable, as it was in line with the 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Summary
Especially large-scale ones, produce several impacts on a territory, which are not exclusively economic in nature. The term ‘event’ derives from the Latin word eventus which directly translates as occurrence or issue Today, such events form an integral part of all societies (Ferdinand & Kitchin, 2012), and the recognition by practitioners and researchers of their role as an industry has gained importance in recent times. This is a feature that is highlighted in the definition by Silvers, who considers an event to be the gathering of people at a specified time and place for the purpose of celebration, commemoration, communication, education, reunion and leisure (Silvers, 2008) Other authors, such as Jago and Shaw, have focused upon the tourism context, defining a special event as a one-time or infrequently occurring event of limited duration that provides the consumer with a leisure and social opportunity beyond everyday experience, often held to raise the profile, image or awareness of a region (Jago & Shaw, 1998). As described by Cherubini and Iasevoli, in the organisation of any of these events, it is possible to briefly identify some major variables that begin with the event idea in order to arrive at the post-event evaluation (Cherubini & Iasevoli, 2009):
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