ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the role of the local government as a stakeholder group in the organisation and management of sports events. It analyses the existing body of literature on event hosting to define the group and to identify the parameters of its membership. The chapter addresses three key themes within the event hosting literature relating the local government stakeholder group. These include economic benefits and consequences; place and tourism promotion; and social and cultural impacts. Regionalism often comes about as a means to address issues associated with smaller local governments. The chapter identifies the federal and provincial governments and the local business community as two key groups with whom coordination is necessary to stage a sports event. It presents a case study that provides overviews of three Canadian cities, of various sizes, each engaged in a unique event strategy: Vancouver, British Columbia; Edmonton, Alberta; and Kamloops, British Columbia.
