ABSTRACT
Mega-events and heritage are not typically related to one another in literature or often considered as two elements to be planned in coordination within city agendas. This chapter highlights the existing overlaps of many aspects of events and heritage, from how cities view and value them to plan for them in the long term. It first focuses on heritage, presenting an overview of the changes in thinking and defining of heritage in the conservation movement over the last century. The chapter then demonstrates the feasibility for events and heritage to be cohesively included within long-term city plans to achieve similar goals due to a shared focus on desired secondary effects; urban and political dynamics related to mass tourism; the role of public expenditure and the current transnational features of both mega-event and cultural heritage policies. A series of examples from past Olympics and Expos highlight the existing positive and negative effects these events can have on the heritage of cities, demonstrating the need for a comprehensive approach.
