Sports Mega-events Research Articles

Snapshots of Empire Games Journeys: The Vernacular Photography of Peter Heatly and the 1950 Scotland Team

Sir Peter Heatly is a former Scottish diver who competed in three British Empire Games and one Olympic Games. On all his journeys to major competitions, he took personal photographs and kept published material and ephemera related to his trips, which were subsequently neatly stored in albums and scrapbooks, and, until 2018, were kept by his family when they deposited the personal archive to the University of Stirling. The vernacular photography of Heatly provides personal evidence of sport mega-events from the mid-twentieth century from an athlete’s perspective. It raises questions about the value of vernacular photography, family albums, and scrapbooks for interpreting and understanding the cultural historiography of sport and how much visual culture helps make sense of the cultures of international sport during the post-war period. The article provides some critical and analytical approaches to the use of such material, questioning the motivations for their original production and archiving, as well as recognizing such photographs are not simple documents of the past with unproblematic meanings but are contingent on specific “networks of authority” and open to contested meanings.

Changes in Young People at Pre-camp Sites for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games: Focusing on Sports Life and Attitudes toward Sports

Clarifying the effects of mega sporting events is an important issue. This study was conducted on the residents of pre-camp sites to identify changes in their sports lifestyles and attitudes toward sports before and after the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020). By examining these changes in relation to the hosting of Tokyo 2020, the effects of the mega-sports event were discussed. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey conducted before and after Tokyo 2020. The survey targeted students (elementary, junior high, and high school students) from schools located in the Tokyo 2020 pre-camp sites. The sample size was 3,129 for the pre-survey and 2,299 for the post-survey. A comparison of changes in sports life and attitudes toward sports before and after Tokyo 2020 did not reveal consistent changes in these survey items. However, positive changes were observed in some of the items related to sports spectating, sports volunteering, and attitudes toward sports after Tokyo 2020. These results suggest that mega-sporting events held in the social context of the coronavirus pandemic influence sports promotion, and may contribute to the promotion of sports spectating and sports volunteering, and the formation of positive attitudes toward sports. Previous studies on mega-sporting events have focused on the economic effects and regional benefits. In contrast, this study suggests that the holding of mega-sporting events may also contribute to sports promotion. However, this study could not identify the factors and mechanisms that cause the event holding effect. More research is needed to verify the effects of mega-sports events in the future.

An analysis of Japan’s soft power strategies through the prism of sports mega-events

This article investigates the use of sports mega-events by nations in East Asia to leverage ‘soft power’. The focus is on Japan and its ‘soft power’ strategies, building on existing work by adding a novel tripartite analysis to understand Japan’s domestic, regional and international rationale for hosting sports mega-events. The empirical data for this study is drawn from government documents and bespoke in-depth interviews (N = 10) with experts involved in sport. This, alongside engagement with the extant literature in the field, allows a more nuanced understanding of Japan’s rationale behind hosting the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the city’s second hosting of an Olympics, the 2020(1) summer Games. Key findings include the use of sports mega-events to ‘open up’ Japan’s society and bolster domestic politics, to maintain their regional status competing with China and South Korea and to improve the nation’s global status.

Globalization trends in the development of modern sports: positive and negative consequences

In today's changing world and, in particular, the sports world, the delineation of the consequences of the influence of integration processes in their practical application is becoming more and more important. The study was conducted with the aim of determining the positive and negative consequences of the influence of globalization processes on the development of modern sports. A complex of methods was used: analysis and generalization of special literature, documentary and informational sources and Internet materials. The literary sources of domestic and foreign specialists are analyzed. The main positive and negative consequences of the influence of globalization processes on the functioning of modern sports are determined. Positive consequences: improving the system of training athletes as a whole and increasing the level of preparation and sportsmanship of individual athletes, the opportunity for athletes and coaches to improve their level of sports career, the level of their family's living conditions, to receive a decent financial reward for their own skills and achievements, a significant increase in the level conducting contests and competing in them. Negative consequences: outflow of talented athletes, coaches and other specialists, concentration of highly qualified athletes in leading clubs, leagues and countries, uncontrolled selection of athletes. The main globalization processes that have a positive and negative impact on the functioning of sports are identified: the holding of mega-sports events, information and communication technologies, migration processes, etc. Taking into account and applying positive globalization processes makes it possible to support and develop the sports system, especially high achievements in the difficult conditions of the war in Ukraine. First of all, this is an opportunity to implement a system of training in international centers and participate in competitions abroad. Taking into account the problems of negative consequences can make it possible to mitigate some of them, and possibly eliminate them.

THE ROLE OF SPORTS MEGA - EVENTS IN THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF CITIES: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Despite the known contribution of sports events to cities, especially affected by COVID-19 pandemic, residents hold different attitudes to this, for some citizens, sports events continue to play a vital role in cities sustainable development and may contribute to improved life condition and infrastructure in cities, but others do not think so. Although the benefits of sports events are commonly reported, the reasons why some cities and citizens willing to hold sports events are not well understood. This systematic review aimed to identify studies from the literature that the importance of sport mega-events in cities sustainable development synthesize and discuss the reasons for willing to hold sports events reported in the literature. Searches of the e-journal databases including Science Direct, Sport Discus, Scopus, Social Science Citation Index and Arts & Humanities Citation Index were performed. Studies were included that evaluated importance of sports events in cities sustainable development and residents’ attitudes because this is the key point to promote sports events development. The studies included in this review used qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods designs, were peer reviewed, and were published in the English language before the search date. Results: There are 2036 studies identified and after exclusions 30 studies were included in the review (9 qualitative, 10 quantitative, and 11 mixed methods). The review presents several features and findings from the studies, including a description and systematization the role of sports mega-events for cities sustainable development and the main reasons that cities and citizens willing to hold sports events (e.g. increasing job chances, improving the visibility of the city, and taking advantage of opportunities to develop economy). The finding suggest that sports events are an integral part of sustainable development of the city, and sports mega-events were identified as contributing to the city development. Cities and citizens can benefit from various sports events with regard to their development. Sports events play an important role in the sustainable development of cities, and contribute to the political, economic and cultural development of the city. The development of sports events and strategies to promote sustainable urban development should focus on these aspects after COVID-19.

Systematic Review for Knowledge Transfer at International Sport Mega-Events

Sport mega-events are characterized by a high degree of organizational complexity and are where games organizers take opportunities to strengthen their competencies and forge network connections via knowledge transfer. However, there is scarce evidence that the knowledge generated is transmitted between former and future host cities. This investigation aimed at examining the state of research on knowledge transfer at international sport mega-events. It followed the PRISMA protocol to identify critical research gaps and shed light on the barriers and enablers within this subject. Applying the quality and eligibility criteria yielded a final corpus of 11 academic and 6 non-academic works. The results demonstrate that a small group of scholars conducted empirical studies applying mixed research in this area. The three significant barriers were identified as the following: the Accessibility and Availability of Knowledge; the Lack of Absorptive Capacity; and the Dilemma of Knowledge Sharing and Knowledge Protection. Three crucial enablers were diagnosed as per the following: Knowledge Identifying and Tailoring Based on Needs, the Local Context, and Culture; Improving the Learning Culture and Capacities; and Communication, Cooperation, and Strategic Approach. The controversies among different studies also revealed the possible bias and insufficient knowledge transfer related to language, database, technology, geographic location, and priority setting, etc. We suggest further research focusing on specific cases between previous and future hosts.

Roving consumers of pleasure: at the conceptual intersection of sport tourism and sex tourism

ABSTRACT Mega sporting events, such as the FIFA World Cup, Olympic Games and Super Bowl, are often constructed as corresponding sites of bodily tourism, with a shared motivation among some tourists to purchase and consume both commercialized sport and sex. This paper begins by deconstructing the ‘common sense’ connection between sport tourism and sex trafficking. It recognizes, however, that both sport and sex tourism are grounded in bodily consumption and conquest. That is, both sex and sport tourism rely on the commodification and consumption of the body as currency and fantasy, defined as a libidinal economy. As such, this paper explores the colonial systems of power that enable and perpetuate the commodification of colonized bodies at the intersection of sport tourism and sex tourism. The paper situates this intersection within the colonial matrix of power and the structural hierarchies maintained through the colonial framing of power, race, gender and sexuality. In this sense, tourism is defined as roving colonialism [Sykes, H. (2017). The sexual and gender politics of sport mega-events: Roving colonialism. New York, NY: Routledge]. Using the colonial matrix of power as a theoretical framework, then, we evaluate the libidinal economies of sport tourism and sex tourism and propose a conceptual understanding of bodily labor and exploitation at this unique intersection. By using this conceptual framework, this paper calls for further empirical study that explicitly evaluates the impact of corresponding systems of sport tourism and sex tourism simultaneously at play within national and international sporting events.

How circular economy can reduce scope 3 carbon footprints: Lessons learned from FIFA world cup Qatar 2022

Mega sporting events (MSEs) such as the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics always attract people around the world to visit the hosting country, boosting its tourism and business, and leaving a positive legacy. However, such events also leave significant negative impacts on the environment such as an increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the host and neighboring countries. Considerable research efforts have been devoted to reducing such negative impacts and maintaining the sustainability of infrastructure associated with MSEs. The infrastructure construction in the host country of an MSE is the main and inevitable source of GHG emissions. In particular, the construction work of stadiums. This study presents comprehensive research on scope-based carbon footprint analysis related to two phases, i.e., the construction phase and operation phase of stadiums, by taking the eight world cup stadiums in Qatar as a case study. A life cycle assessment is used to quantify the potential environmental impacts of these stadiums at different stages. The Ecoinvent database is used to quantify the emission factor at each phase. According to the findings, Scope 3 (indirect supply chain) emissions are greater than Scope 1 (direct on-site) emissions, and the construction supply chain is found to be a significant contributor to the carbon footprint of the stadiums, accounting for 98% of the total GHG emissions. The results also show that electricity, district cooling, and waste generation are the three top contributors of GHG emissions with 35%, 25%, and 21% emissions, respectively. Moreover, it is vital to implement innovative approaches such as circular design for end-of-life material recycling and reuse of structural components, which can support a transition toward sustainable and carbon-neutral mega events. Thus, this study presents the role of circular economy in achieving carbon-neutral FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. This research will contribute to enhancing the future benefits of the sustainable construction of infrastructure projects for mega events and help in harmonizing mega event strategies with national circular economy targets.

Addressing human rights abuses at mega-sporting events-A shared responsibility in theory and practice.

Mega-sporting events (MSEs) have great potential to promote human rights and be a force for good, not only in the host country or city where the event takes place, but also beyond. At the same time, these events are regularly linked to human rights abuses and this opinion piece provides an overview of MSE-related adverse human rights impacts and discusses how the governance of these events enables these impacts to occur in the context of bidding for, preparing, and delivering these events. At the core of this discussion the paper presents a shared responsibility approach and argues that if applied in a preventative and retrospective way and including the concept of collaborative remedy, it can help address these adverse impacts. This is followed by a reflection on the feasibility of this approach, by considering to what extent current developments in the evolving sport and human rights movement are going in that direction and the paper finishes with a brief discussion on the importance of making the current changes sustainable and how research and education are key elements of this endeavour.

Heterogeneity in consumer preference toward mega-sport event travel packages: Implications for smart tourism marketing strategy

Consumers’ decision-making processes and behaviors are often considered heterogeneous depending on various factors (i.e., decision strategy, spatial location, and individual characteristics). To better understand consumers’ decision-making process in the context of mega-sport events, the current study explores two potential decision biases inducing consumers’ heterogeneity – 1) a simplified decision rule model and 2) spatial variability. More specifically, this study conducted two sequential analyses that explore spatially varying preferences toward the mega-sport event travel package considering the effect of the simplified decision rule. Results revealed that the simplified decision rule model, including a selective evaluation of product attributes, explained better than the full model, considering all product attributes. This study also observed spatially varying preferences toward mega-sport event packages without any meaningful differences in psychological constructs. The findings contribute to the literature on consumer decision bias and spatial variability in tourists’ behaviors. Theoretical and managerial implications are provided in the conclusion.

The Influence of Medium-Scale Host Cities' Image On Mega-Sporting Events: The UEFA Euro 2016

Mega-sporting events have long been perceived as an exciting way to gather people to attend the performance of top athletes and as a chance for stakeholders to benefit from various kinds of impacts. However, sport events are now facing increasing criticism. The goal of this study is to examine how organizing committees can benefit from the destination image to positively influence sport events' image and intention to recommend. Based on a comprehensive analysis of the literature the following variables have been measured: destination image, event image, event recommendation, tourist satisfaction. During the UEFA Euro 2016 held in France, 725 questionnaires were collected. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to test the construct validity, followed by a SEM to test the hypothesized relations. We found that destination image positively influences event image, and that event image positively influences event recommendation and tourist satisfaction. However, destination image did not have a significant influence on tourist satisfaction. This study points out the need for sport events' right holders to pay attention to image factors in selecting the host territory because the latter can influence the perception of the event.

Assessing the Environmental Impact of a University Sport Event: The Case of the 75th Italian National University Championships

In recent years, there has been an increase in the attention towards sustainability by the organizing committees of mega-sport events due to the potential impacts they can have. Less attention was given to small-sport events: the carbon footprint of this type of event was seldom investigated unless it had a clear impact on the environment. The purpose of this study is to provide a qualitative-quantitative assessment of the sustainability of a university sporting event held at the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio in 2022. Athletes, technicians, coaches, and companions from various Italian universities were interviewed with the scope being to obtain information on all of the activities associated with the sporting event (travelling, accommodation, etc.). In addition, in-depth interviews were conducted with key members of the organizing committee with the goal of obtaining information relating to the actions undertaken by the Federation to safeguard the environment. The results on the sample indicate a carbon footprint of 40,551 kg of CO2e, of which 27,360 kg of CO2e are attributable to transport and 13,191 kg of CO2e are attributable to accommodations. Sporting event organizing committees should implement some strategies to encourage environmentally friendly behaviours to reduce the negative effects of their activities on the environment.

Attending sporting mega events during COVID-19: mitigation and messaging at UK EURO 2020 matches.

The UEFA EURO 2020 football tournament was one of the largest Sporting Mega Events (SMEs) to take place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mitigating the risk of virus transmission requires a multi-layered approach for any large event, more so in this case due to staging the tournament across eleven host countries. Yet, little is known about COVID-19 risks and mitigation from attending an event of this scale and nature. We examined the implementation of mitigation and messaging at EURO 2020 matches hosted at venues in the UK. The tournament was postponed from the summer of 2020 and played in June and July of 2021. Structured observations were conducted by 11 trained fieldwork-supporters at 10 matches played at Wembley Stadium, London, or Hampden Park, Glasgow. Fieldwork-supporters observed one-way systems and signage, and hand sanitizing stations inside the stadia, but reported significant variation in the implementation of staggered timeslots, testing upon entry, and procedures for exit. Adherence to planned measures by ticket holders and implementation by stewards waned as the tournament progressed culminating in an absence of enforced measures at the final. The non-compliance with COVID-19 mitigation measures was likely to have led to a significantly increased risk of transmission. Future events should consider how COVID-19 mitigation measures could become 'new norms' of fan behaviour, learning from what is already known about football fandom. Tournament organizers of SMEs can use these findings to promote clearer messaging on pandemic-driven changes in fan behaviour and best practices in mitigating risk at future sporting and cultural events.

Networked Social Movements against Mega-Sporting Events in Brazil: Challenging Differentiated Citizenship and Calling for the Right to the City

Networked Social Movements against Mega-Sporting Events in Brazil: Challenging Differentiated Citizenship and Calling for the Right to the City

An Examination of Ticket Pricing in a Multidisciplinary Sports Mega-Event

Some studies have examined ticket sales in the context of a sporting event. However, only a few have investigated the determinants of ticket prices, and, to date, none have done so in the context of a multidisciplinary sports mega-event. This study examines this complex paradigm through the case of the World Swimming Championships held in Barcelona, Spain. The particular focus of this study was whether, in such a framework, the same model of analysis of price determinants could be applied equally to all the disciplines that comprise the sporting mega-event. The applied model was significant, explaining the ranges of variation of the ticket prices in the different sport disciplines. The main hypothesis was rejected, which suggests that when examining price determinants in multidisciplinary sport mega-events, it will be convenient to implement a different model for each sporting discipline (aquatic, in the case at hand). These results can help professionals better understand consumer fluctuations throughout the ticket sales process in such an environment, in order to appropriately price tickets. This, in turn, will lead to maximizing revenue, as well as attendance, at sporting events.

Influence of Postponement of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou and Countermeasures

The economic value produced by the sport has become an integral part of economic society. Hence, taking advantage of large-scale sporting events can rapidly improve the host city’s popularity, upgrade the construction of infrastructure, boost the development of city tourism, and increase the city’s international competitiveness. However, with the outbreak of COVID-19, the effects of holding sporting events to stimulate economic growth, drive relevant businesses, and promote the city’s image have faded. Both the government and investors require a reassessment of investment. In particular, the postponement of international mega-sporting events has had a substantial negative impact on participants and stakeholders already in the preparatory stage. By studying the construction and operation status of the 19th Asian Games Chun’an satellite village, the article produced the following outcomes: Actively introducing partners to lead regional operation can immediately fill the gap; By establishing an excellent cooperative relationship between investors and government, the enterprises can significantly reduce pressure; Improving product and service quality can efficiently enhance customers’ satisfaction and build the core competitiveness.

Mobile Mega-Event Expertise in an “East Asian Era”

An “East Asian Era” is unfolding in the hosting of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and other sports, and nonsports, mega-events. In addition to three editions of the Olympics and Paralympics, several other not as large mega-events have been or are set to be staged in East Asia over the next 5 years. How long the interest in hosting sports mega-events will continue and, if it does, who will be involved in the production of these events are the questions explored in this article. The article consists of five sections. First, we outline the context in which the growth of sports mega-events in the past four decades has occurred. Second, we sketch the theoretical and methodological approaches we use drawing on mobilities research and actor–network theory. Third, studies of knowledge management and policy transfer and mobilities associated with sports mega-events are discussed as a way of understanding the development of mobile mega-event expertise. Fourth, we examine career mobilities, networks, and the extent to which an East Asian “Mega-Event Caravan” could be said to exist or be in formation. Finally, we draw preliminary conclusions and indicate where further research is required.

Sports mega-events and changing world order.

Processes of making, sustaining, reforming, and un-making world orders are constants in global politics and development. Understood in the neo-Gramscian tradition pioneered by Robert Cox, ideas, institutions, and material capabilities combine to shape the range of possibilities for more and less stable orders. Sports mega-events (SMEs)-most prominently, the Olympic Games-have played an underappreciated role in this process. This paper examines the ways in which the Olympics manifested and supported the rise of globalized neoliberal hegemony in the early 1980s, the reconfiguration and erosion of this order through the 1990s and 2000s, and efforts to fundamentally revise this order in the new millennium. Particular emphasis is placed on the dual role of SMEs and the Olympics as manifestations of conspicuous consumption and the pursuit of prestige on the one hand, and as focal points for sanctions campaigns and boycotts on the other.

Residents’ Perceptions and Behavioral Intentions towards Mega-Sports Events: A Case Study of Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games

Despite growing research on the impacts of mega-sports events, comparative studies of the value perceptions of residents in host and non-host cities are rare. Residents’ perceptions are effective indicators of their behavioral intentions, which are crucial for the success of events and for the place marketing of hosting cities. To fill this gap, this study constructed a model linking residents’ expected impacts, perceived value and behavioral intentions for mega-sports events. Informed by Social Exchange Theory, this study employed Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze 1527 valid questionnaires collected in mainland China (412 in host cities, 1115 in non-host cities). The results reveal that non-host-city residents have more substantial expectations of impacts, perceptions of value, and behavioral intentions than host-city residents. Residents in Northeast China had the highest perceptions and behavioral intentions toward the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, implying that the geographical location of the non-host cities is an influencing factor. Researchers and practitioners should pay attention to those differences in research design and event planning to promote the sustainable development of mega-sports events.

Evidence of a Social Legacy from Volunteering at the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

Mega-sport events, like Olympic and Paralympic Games, typically promise host communities that beneficial legacies will remain beyond the life of the event; however, there is little postevent research supporting these claims. Conducted 3 years after the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, this research is one of few to explore the social legacy of volunteerism following an Olympic and Paralympic Games. A previously developed anonymous online survey was distributed via the event's 26 volunteer centers. Analysis included principal components analysis and independent samplesttests. The results demonstrate that social legacies can be achieved, albeit at a level lower than may be indicated by surveys conducted at the time of the event. By being strategic in their recruitment and training of volunteers, future mega-sport event organizers may be more effective in achieving social legacies, in sport, events, and tourism, that add to a host community's social and human capitals.