ABSTRACT

Authors of reports of positive impacts from sporting mega-events attribute to them such qualities as acting as economic growth stimuli, urban regeneration catalysts, social change inspirers, destination brand developers, and so on. On the other hand, authors of reports of negative impacts describe sporting mega-events as leading to civil rights abuses, atmospheric pollution, rampant nationalism, exploitation by corrupt multinationals and bribery of officials. To look into the reason for such differences of opinion we can turn to Hippocrates, who studied medicine and understood the challenges for practising it that were created by the circumstances faced by physicians and medical professionals.

Life is short, and science long; the time fleeting; experience perilous, and decision difficult. The physician must not only be prepared to do what is right himself, but also to make the patient, the attendants, and externals cooperate.

(Hippocrates, writing in 460 Bc) 2