ABSTRACT
Understanding the importance of culture in city planning is vital in order to cater for local identities and cultural heritage that exist globally. Surprisingly, this topic has received relatively little attention in literature concerned with legacy of mega-events. It is therefore unsurprising that debates on whether urban legacy of mega-events is a fact or fairy tale, and whether (if it exists) this legacy is more positive or negative, are ongoing. In this chapter we put forward a case for greater cultural centrality in approaches of urban legacy evaluation, to better unpack, capture and evaluate its less tangible (i.e., soft) dimensions. Furthermore, we argue for placing the importance on cultural preservation as an important component in the planning and implementation of cities’ developments for mega-events, in order to avoid the loss of local cultural heritage and stimulate positive cultural change which is inclusive for all those who utilise the area and adapting to the needs and interests of communities.
