ABSTRACT
The Olympic Games belong to the so-called Mega Events, a term used to define those events which are expected to produce large-scale effects within a particular territorial context. They are characterised by high-profile work, short duration in time, large public and private investments and huge numbers of potential users. It should also be mentioned that mega events are always limited in time but have lasting implications on the hosting city and region in terms of symbolic values and cultural identity as well as physical infrastructures, buildings and other facilities which can be used in the post-event phase (Bobbio & Guala, 2002; Essex & Chalkey, 2010). The literature in this context reveals that Olympic Games and, more generally, mega events positively affect the tourism sector of the hosting city (Chalip, 2002; Duran, 2002).
