ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the modern Olympic Games. The five Olympics rings have global brand recognition. The Games have evolved into more than just a platform for sporting prowess and athletic brilliance; they are also a television spectacle, a billion-dollar-plus business, an opportunity for corporate sponsorship, and an arena for national expressions and international tensions. There are a number of detailed case studies of the impact of individual Games. There are also studies that focus on specific issues, such as the transport implications, or on econometric cost-benefit analysis. Proponents argue that while there may be some inconveniences and costs, cities should host the Games because the benefits outweigh the costs, because the city is guaranteed a great legacy of sports facilities, improved infrastructure, and more-positive global recognition. Hosting the Games is a potential game-changer, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a city to attract money and jobs and create a lasting positive legacy.
