Sport events are a powerful tool for building community. However, the impact of these events depends on how they are planned and managed.
In settings with significant social divisions, the neutrality of event organizers may be particularly important in creating inclusive spaces. In addition, the connection of event activities with local traditions can foster feelings of pride and re-envision identities.
Social Impact
While the economic impact of hosting an overseas sports event is often emphasized, it is important to consider the social impact as well. Major sporting events can promote a sense of national pride and unity, and they can also serve as a platform for discussing social and political issues.
A key feature of a sports event is its ability to attract attention from a wide range of people, including international media and tourists. This type of attention can be used to increase a country’s soft power, which is the capacity to influence others without threatening violence or force. According to Joseph Nye, soft power is the most effective means of promoting foreign policy goals.
Despite the lack of official social impact objectives, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Mostar was able to foster community benefits, particularly in a divided city. Survey and interview results converged to indicate that Mostar residents perceive the event as a largely positive force generating numerous community benefits, building upon many of the advantages observed with tourism, more broadly.
Economic Impact
Host countries and cities spend millions of dollars to evaluate, plan, and execute a mega sporting event. These costs include construction of venues, hiring consultants, and a boost in tourism. Despite these benefits, there is little objective evidence that hosting an event generates positive long-term economic impact.
A major reason is that sports event proponents tend to overestimate the economic benefits. They do this to attract public and political support. Moreover, they often exclude social impacts such as vandalism and traffic congestion. Additionally, they ignore substitution effects, where local residents shift spending from other leisure activities to attend the event.
Furthermore, many studies of economic impact use flawed models that overlook key issues. For example, they do not account for a decline in expenditures by non-attendees or for substitution effects, where visitors from other countries and regions spend less during the games.
Environmental Impact
Major sporting events have a significant impact on the environment in terms of energy and resources used and the negative effects on land and nature. However, with the increasing concern about environmental sustainability in sport, there is a move to incorporate more and better measures to minimize harmful effects and strengthen the positive ones.
This includes reducing carbon emissions, waste generation, water and energy consumption and deforestation. It also involves implementing responsible waste management and raising environmental awareness. Get your sport impact on 해외스포츠중계.
Several studies have identified the positive and adverse environmental impacts of major sports events. However, these impacts are not well understood. This is mainly due to a lack of knowledge on the environmental sustainability in sport and the complexity of defining what is considered as sustainable. This is why more research needs to be done on the subject and how hosts can take action. Also, it is important to consider the wider social and labour implications of the event in order to avoid any negative social impacts.
Political Impact
While the benefits of organizing sports events are numerous, political factors make a huge difference. Hosting a sporting event enhances the image of a country, encourages its youth to engage in sport and a healthy lifestyle, promotes cultural exchange, strengthens diplomatic ties, and creates an overall positive feeling of unity. High-level politicians are also often present during events. They support the national team, show their involvement in the champion’s success, and reinforce a country’s political vector.
The political impact of sports events can also be problematic. For example, the sponsorship of the 2022 FIFA World Cup by Qatar raises questions about corruption in the bid process, a state’s role as a petrostate, and the quashing of activism and dissent.
Finally, sports organizations are increasingly viewed as global power players with a unique ability to leverage soft power. This raises important questions about the nature of political power and the legitimacy of international institutions. A realist approach sees politics as purely about power, while an idealist perspective allows room for the possibility of a more genuine international order that values shared principles.
