Hosting a sporting event is a great way to boost a country’s image. However, there are many costs involved.
Joseph Nye argues that sports can be used as a tool to achieve soft power goals. Recently, countries have competed to host large sport events in order to improve their reputation and enhance their diplomatic posture.
Benefits
Hosting international sporting events can bring many benefits to a city or country. From boosting the local economy to increasing the global profile of the location, it can attract tourism and investment. But these benefits must be weighed against the infamous “host city curse” – high taxes and unanticipated expenses that can cripple long-term economic sustainability.
Sports events can be a powerful tool for nation-building. They can bolster a national sense of pride and unity and provide a platform for athletes to showcase their skills. Moreover, they can inspire athletes to improve their own athletic performance. Seeing their favorite athletes compete at an elite level can motivate them to push themselves to new limits.
In Mostar, a post-war city with prominent ethnic divisions, this research sought to understand residents’ perceptions of a recurring sport event and its community impacts. Its findings indicate that the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series can be used as a transformative event to foster community development outcomes in divided areas.
Disadvantages
While organising large scale sporting events such as the Olympics can have a host country’s economy benefiting from increased tourism, these benefits are not necessarily shared by everyone in the country. This is because the event can be expensive, and many citizens may lose their jobs as a result. Additionally, the construction of venues can divert resources from other areas of the country’s development.
In addition to this, the influx of tourists can cause local businesses to increase their expenditure on accommodation, restaurants, and transport services. This is a disadvantage for the poor in the country as it increases the prices of consumer goods.
Lastly, the security measures required to host these events can be costly and may have negative environmental impacts if not properly managed. Additionally, the venues created for these events can be a magnet for crime, especially if they are highly visible on the world stage. This can lead to violent conflicts during matches or even alcohol-related problems.
Costs
Hosting a global sports event such as the Olympic Games or football Euro Cup can be costly. However, the benefits are undoubtedly significant. The events provide revenue and improve a nation’s organizational ability. Furthermore, the games are a good way to promote a country’s image to global spectators and boost tourism rates.
In addition, a host nation must build and renovate stadiums and other facilities to meet the needs of the event. It also has to provide security and back-of-house overlay, special transportation services for delegates and VIPs, tax preferences, and more. These costs can offset any economic gains from hosting the events. Visit 해외스포츠중계 to get to know more.
These costs are often overlooked when calculating the costs of an Olympics or football World Cup. As a result, many advanced democracies are reluctant to bid for these events. This cynicism is understandable given that these mega-events are expensive and require massive funding. In fact, every Olympic Games since 1960 has gone over budget (Flyvbjerg and Stewart 2012). Moreover, these events can lead to financial problems for the host cities if they are not planned properly.
Sustainability
Major sporting events have a huge global audience. These events also generate a significant amount of economic benefit for the host countries. They can help to develop local industries and attract tourists. However, they can have negative effects on the environment. One of the most common is carbon emissions from air travel by fans. These emissions contribute to climate change, which is a concern for many.
In recent years, major sports organizations have developed sustainability pledges and goals for their events. These include reducing the use of plastic and fossil fuels, and making their venues more energy efficient. However, these efforts are not enough to offset the impact of global tournaments on the environment.
It is important for organisers to recognise the importance of developing sustainable strategies. They should work together with stakeholders to find innovative solutions. For example, a sports event could implement an ISO 20121-certified sustainability management system to ensure that it has the policies and procedures in place to deliver its program.
