ABSTRACT

Hosting the Olympic Games reveals the true costs involved for the cities that hold these large-scale sporting events. It uncovers the financing of the Games, reviewing existing studies to evaluate the costs and benefits, and draws on case study experiences of the Summer and Winter Games from the past forty years to assess the short- and long-term urban legacies for host cities.

Written in an easily accessible style and format, it provides an in-depth critical analysis into the franchise model of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and offers an alternative vision for future Games. This book is an important contribution to understanding the consequences for the host cities of Olympic Games.

chapter 1|3 pages

Setting the scene

chapter 2|12 pages

The Olympics

Past and present

chapter 3|12 pages

Financing the Games

chapter 4|16 pages

Bidding

chapter 5|14 pages

Rising costs

chapter 6|12 pages

Costs and benefits

chapter 7|23 pages

Urban legacies

chapter 8|8 pages

Alternatives to event capture