The closer to danger, farther from harm? The impact of sport mega events in communities affected by infrastructure associated with the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Porto Alegre

Abstract

In this article, we address the problems caused by sport mega events to residents directly affected by development projects associated with such events. To do so, we conducted a survey with residents of 134 chosen randomly residences in a universe of 3465 houses. These residences are located in the impact area of the Tronco Avenue construction, the principal development project associated with the 2014 FIFA World Cup in the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil. We classified such residences according to their location in relation to the works and in relation to the type of possession the residents declared. Such analysis procedures allowed us to point out ways for sport mega events to avoid or mitigate the problems identified from the perceptions of the surveyed residents. The main issues raised by the residents are related to housing, security and living conditions. Our conclusions point to the fact that the discourse associated with sport mega events could be channelled to the more direct impacts of the transformations provoked by such events.