This case study is part of the Contemporary Cases Online series. The series provides critical case studies that are original, flexible, challenging, controversial and research-informed, driven by the needs of teaching and learning.

The aim of politicians is to attract new investment to their city or region in order to develop infrastructure such as telecommunications, transportation, housing or even sport and entertainment facilities. Sporting events are also intended to achieve intangible ends such as a better image, more know-how, stronger networks, emotional commitment and additional cultural benefits and enhanced identity. All these so called ‘event structures’ can improve sites in a city/region by strengthening certain location factors. They may improve general living conditions in the longer term and also boost the income of citizens by attracting new businesses, tourists, conventions or new events. Finally they may foster economic growth at the city, regional or national level. This collection is of particular interest for anyone who intends to enter a bidding process for a major sporting event. It offers the host of an event a good introduction to the potential ways to generate economic benefits and will enhance understanding of the economics behind major sporting events. This book was previously published as a special issue of European Sport Management Quarterly

Do small- and medium-sized sporting events affect the overall wellbeing of people living in the host community? If so, how they do they affect local life? This book specifically addresses the strategic choices that host communities make when hosting non-mega sporting events, and looks at the outcomes of those choices. The contributions to this study assess a variety of tangible and intangible effects, including the economic and social impacts, and the effect on tourism and participation in sport. It contains analysis of a variety of events, including spectator and participant events, single-sport and multi-sport events, and one-day and multi-day events, all hosted in different types of cities and communities around the globe. Overall, this book identifies and extends our understanding of the nature, management, and implications of non-mega sporting events. The impacts and strategic outcomes highlighted here have practical value for sport event management and strategy, and advance our understanding of the economic and social consequences of hosting an event. This book was originally published as a special issue of European Sport Management Quarterly.

This book explores various social, cultural, political and economic issues through the lenses of various sport mega-events in the twenty-first century, including the Olympic Games, and the World Cup and European Championships in football. In a time where sport mega-events are closely followed by controversies, legacy discourses and questions of their governance, the chapters within this book showcase why sport mega-events continue to ignite important questions for scholars, commentators, fans and sport and political authorities. By covering various topics emerging around sport mega-events such as physical activity, legacies, rhetoric, media coverage, environmental impacts, diplomacy and spectators' experiences, this book breaks new ground as it considers a range of longstanding and emerging socio-political issues relating broadly to the staging of spectacular sport mega-events in the present-day. This is a fascinating reading for students and researchers situated in sociology, sport management, event management, political science, sport studies, sport business, urban studies and leisure studies. The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Sport in Society.

This book examines the economic, social and environmental impacts and issues associated with the development of sport tourism globally, including the lack of research and coordination between industry and government. The book suggests the need for a more balanced analysis of the impacts and issues associated with future sport tourism development.

The purpose of this study is to examine Thai residents' perceptions towards the sports tourism impacts. A total of 1,104 useful questionnaires selected residents from Bangkok/Chiang Mai/Chonburi/Nakhon Ratchasima/Phuket were analyzed. An original sports tourism impacts scale comprising 23 items was purified by exploratory factor analysis, revealing 21 impacts items with four impact factors: cultural, environmental and social benefits, cultural, social, and economic costs, economic benefits, and environment deterioration. It was found that four factors which explained 59.96% of variance in residents' perceptions were both benefits and costs. The findings of this study can be used as valuable information for realizing how residents perceive the impacts of sports tourism, and consequently government/related organizations should consider.

This book is a starter ′DIY′ text for practitioners who are looking to conduct evaluation studies and research as part of their own professional practice. The growing emphasis on evidence-based practice means that there is an increasing need for practitioners to have at least a basic understanding of research, be aware of methodological pitfalls and to be updated on new methods. This book provides a practical, user-friendly guide to social science research methods for professionals who have benefited from little, if any, formal research methods training but find themselves in a role that requires them to read and understand complex research findings and carry out their own research as part of their professional practice. Practical Research and Evaluation is aimed at practitioners working in education, health, social care and community work. Many in this market are non-graduates or are those whose study did not contain a research element, but are required to know how research works. This book has three main aims which will benefit this audience - to enable readers to carry out small-scale research projects of their own, provide them with the basic understanding necessary to commission research, and enable them to better understand and evaluate critically research reports. This book is designed specifically for ′Do-it-Yourself′ researchers working in the public or voluntary sectors. It is accessible and relevant to practitioners, uses non-technical language wherever possible and employs grounded examples, practical tips, checklists and readings lists throughout.

Discusses the research, thought and case examples as related to festivals and events. This book provides an example of how the subject area has included and grown far beyond the initial realms of description, management process or economic evaluation from which it emerged. It addresses questions that need investigating, developing and answering.

This book examines the relationships between sport event hosting and community development goals. With sport events proliferating around the world, from major events to local events, the book explains how community goals can be embedded into sports event planning, and how events at all levels can be most effectively leveraged to achieve positive outcomes and legacies for local communities. Featuring real-world case studies and the perspective of industry practitioners in every chapter, the book explores the commercial, social, and political contexts in which events take place and what is meant by "legacy" and "impact." It introduces the key stakeholders, from residents and local government to NGOs, as well as the spectrum of goals that might be in play, and looks at partnerships working for the best effect. The book also explains the sports event management process, from bidding to planning to venue management to monitoring and evaluation, and considers how community development goals can, and should, be incorporated at every stage. With a practical focus, and full of useful features for learning and understanding, this is essential reading for any student or practitioner with an interest in sports events, community sport, sport development, event management, or sustainable business.