Introduction

The phenomenon of mega-events, once distinguished as ‘special’ or ‘hallmark’ events, has arguably become normalised, reflecting their universal and thus ubiquitous —nature – and their longevity. Re-presenting and re-imaging major cities through the mega-events is therefore both a competitive strategy and a reflection of the ‘festivalisation of the city’. The opportunity to upgrade and invest huge amounts of public money in new transport infrastructure is a prosaic, but important aspect of mega-events, since the level of transport investment involved can outstrip the direct costs of the event facilities themselves. The costs and benefits of hosting a short-term event can therefore be rationalised through the connectivity that new transport infrastructure brings to a region or sub-region, enabling access for employment, tourists and providing an essential element in placemaking. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.