Holding mega sports events, such as the Olympic
Games and the FIFA World Cup, helps a country in establishing itself in the global
sporting map and creating a culture of sports in the nation. These events serve
as catalysts for the development of sports in the society. Further, organizing
these mega sports events create a positive impact on the economy of the host nation
by developing city infrastructure, creating direct and indirect employment opportunities
and increasing the possibilities of trade and commerce. Apart from these tangible
benefits, holding mega sports events helps in creating a positive perception of
sports among the citizens which encourages them to take part in sporting
activities and thereby building a healthy and fit generation.
India’s tryst with hosting mega sports events
started in 1951 when Delhi became the host city of the inaugural Asian Games. However,
even after that, not much importance was given to sports in the public policies
in India. A significant change took place after the successful organization of the
IXth Asian Games in 1982 in Delhi. It was a major boost in the process of
sports development in the country. The government played an instrumental role
in developing sports and city infrastructure for holding the games
successfully. The same legacy was taken forward when the XIX Commonwealth Games
was staged in India in 2010.
Many countries participate in the bid process to
host the mega sports events, which is a complex and expensive procedure. It was
estimated that Chicago, as a potential host city of the 2016 Olympic Games,
spent approximately US$ 100 million only on the bidding process. On the other
hand, bidding for the FIFA World Cup may cost the host nation anything between
US$ 10 million and US$ 20 million (Source: Ernst & Young Report, March
2010). Apart from the financial involvement, there is a huge requirement of
manpower for preparing the bid for hosting the mega sports events. For example,
more than 500 people worked to produce the Rio 2016 candidature for the
Olympics. More than 150 professionals worked to prepare the Madrid’s bid for
the 2016 Olympic Games. Now, the
question is why these countries participate in the bid process for staging the
mega sports events which often cost them multi- billion dollars! There are multiple benefits that can be achieved
by hosting these games, both in short run and long run. These benefits are
manifold, ranging from the immediate impact on sports and general infrastructure
and local trade and commerce to long term development of the economy and
society as a whole.
In my next blog, I shall elaborate the benefits of
hosting mega sports events.
