The Olympic Games Impact (OGI) study for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games: strategies for evaluating sport mega-events’ contribution to sustainability

Abstract

This paper aims to contribute to a burgeoning dialogue on evaluating the sustainability of sport mega-events by introducing three strategies for implementing the International Olympic Committee's (IOC's) Olympic Games Impact (OGI) study. The three techniques are bundling/leveraging, before-after control and sustainability scorecards. This paper begins by offering a twofold definition of OGI, one based on the OGI Technical Manual and one based on the author's experience undertaking this initiative. Second, it presents and discusses the OGI critiques that exist in the sport mega-event impact literature. Although only recently implemented, critical analyses of the OGI methodology have already produced a handful of critiques. Third, the experience of applying OGI in an examination of the 2010 Games is the grounds for suggesting two new critiques. Fourth, the paper describes, using empirical data from 2010, how the OGI researchers have addressed the methodological critiques by: (1) connecting indicator data to public policy objectives; (2) positing a provisional means to create a sustainability standard; and (3) comparing changes in the indicator data in the host to nonhost jurisdictions. This article would be of interest to future prospective Olympic host cities, researchers of mega-events and their impacts and practitioners who evaluate urban sustainability.

Unravelling legacy: a triadic actor-network theory approach to understanding the outcomes of mega events

“…These debates about appropriate terminologies are reflected in wider concerns about legacy plans often falling short of the original goals due to the temporary nature of organising committees, limited conceptual understanding and methodological challenges in regard to measuring legacies (Phillips & Barnes, 2015). Hence the research on event leveraging has tried to develop strategies that enhance wider economic, socio-cultural and environmental outcomes at all stages and scales of events, including those at the community level (Chalip, 2006(Chalip, , 2014O'Brien & Chalip, 2008;Smith, 2013;VanWynsberghe, 2014). Chalip (2006), for example, suggests to foster social interaction and prompt a feeling of celebration among community stakeholders by enabling sociability before and after the event, creating eventrelated activities, facilitating informal social opportunities and producing widely themed parallel events.…”

“…We specifically aim to advance conceptual thinking across mega event legacy and event leveraging research in two ways by bringing into conversation MELT, our acronym for mega event legacy theory, and conceptual debates in both science and technology studies and geography about actor-network theory (ANT). First, we suggest a small but significant shift in terminology from legacy as a wider concept to the more differentiated triad of 'effect/impact/legacy' and thus to three terms that are addressed as outcomes in leveraging research (VanWynsberghe, 2014). Second, we propose to synthesise existing case studies and novel research perspectives in the notion of the 'legacy rings', a multidimensional framework for researching the outcomes of (sports) mega events.…”

Images of Stakeholder Groups Based on Their Environmental Sustainability Linked CSR Projects: A Meta-Analytic Review of Korean Sport Literature

“…Most of CSR projects are planned and enacted as part of internal marketing efforts, which are designed to motivate employees and workers to adopt a heightened customer orientation [1,23,24]. As seen from recent examples, most mega-sports events are criticized for their negative impact on environmental sustainability and on sustainable use of their venues [4]. Therefore, stakeholder groups are now faced with the ongoing challenge of managing brand identity and image development.…”

“…Sustainability has emerged as an integral part of efforts and as a meaningful mission for relevant organizations, researchers, and practitioners in the global sports industry [4]. In pursuit of a more sustainable event, the International Olympic Committee (the IOC, hereafter) has reinforced the Olympic Solidarity Program in cooperation with other global partners since the constituent assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) was established in Puerto Rico in 1979 [5].…”

Playing in the Shadow of Event Urbanism: Newcomer Youth, Neighborhood Change, and TO2015

“…Recent research on the sport mega-event has examined development priorities and realities in the midst of time-sensitive construction processes. This work has interrogated the impact of the event on social legacies (Kidd 2013;Lenskyj 2012;Vanwynsberghe 2015), national identities (Broudehoux 2017;Silk 2018), urban geographies (Gaffney 2010;Oliver 2017), recreation and leisure opportunities (Potwarka and Leatherdale 2016), political dissidence (Boykoff 2014), and environmental collapse (Geeraert and Gauthier 2018). As a microcosm of broader societal trajectories and itineraries, the sport mega-event is not removed from the cultural preoccupation with terrorism; the fear from which has worked to legitimate and indeed necessitate the militarization of urban space.…”