ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the reasons why cities and countries wish to hold sporting mega-events. Bidding and winning major sporting events get a mixed reception around the world. Critics argue that communities are often displaced, ordinary people are excluded from involvement and expensive facilities sometimes become white elephants. This criticism has to be balanced with the fact that such events provide economic, social and cultural opportunities. Tournaments can direct a spotlight on the increasing necessity for sports federations to be socially responsible. The chapter has also pointed out that the legacy of hosting major sports events needs to be considered on a case-by-case basis. The benefits of hosting major sporting events do not always justify the costs. Economists tells you with some confidence that the determinants of Olympic medal-winning nations are basic economic variables such as gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and population size, but predicting events such as the FIFA World Cup is much harder.
