ABSTRACT
Over the past two decades, as the world has experienced a more integrated economic framework and the role of tourism in several economies has expanded, sport has become an important commercial vehicle for establishing a nation or region’s image as a destination for visitors.1 Nations and cities now desire to be the home to professional sports teams and to host national and international events, to underscore both their elevated roles in the international economy and their popularity as a tourist destination.2 In the past few years China, South Africa, Cuba, Israel and the Palestinian Authority have each sought to host international sporting events to underscore their identities and to help build a tourism economy.3 At the local level community leaders now seem completely convinced that hosting a team is essential to establish their city’s identity and reputation as a leading centre of civic and commercial life.4
