ABSTRACT
The previous two chapters focused mainly on physical changes made to cities in association with staging major events. Urban regeneration has traditionally been associated with these place-based transformations to improve infrastructure, housing and local environmental quality. But there is a growing realisation that physical change is not necessarily the best way to encourage wider social and economic development. This is related to the perceived failure of some high-profile property-led projects in the 1980s. There is now increasing pressure for more people-oriented regeneration strategies that focus more on education, worklessness and health (Lawless, 2010). Greater appreciation of social issues is also something witnessed in the events sphere and more recognition is now given to the social outcomes of event strategies. As will become clear during this chapter, these social effects are not always positive. Initiatives are needed to maximise positive effects, minimise negative social impacts and embed positive changes so that they are sustained in the long term. The key aim of this chapter is to explore whether (and how) events can help to make a positive and sustained contribution to the social regeneration of urban areas.
