Legacy planning for major multi-sport events vs faith, hope and charity!

Abstract

Not unlike many nations that have bid for and hosted major multi-sport events, franchise holders and their backers in countries around the world routinely cite a number of benefits that will accrue to their country in order to garner the public and private support required to successfully bid for and stage international level major multi-sport events. These benefits include: sport development; social, cultural, economic and community benefits, among others, derived from hosting international level sport events. Canada has an enviable record of hosting major multi-sport events. We have staged them often and we have hosted them well. Since 1967, Canada has hosted almost every major multi-sport event available to it. Billions of dollars in public expenditures have been made in support of these events from all levels of government. But do the promises that are made to convince governments, community leaders and the general public deliver the benefits that they advertise? This research paper will examine the legacy aspects of major multi-sport games from the vantage point of community development, economic impact and in particular sport benefits. It also offers a conceptual framework to evaluate the sport benefit legacies and introduces the Major Event Return Legacy Index (MERLIN©). The prospect of hosting a major multi-sport event attracts a multitude of eager bidders in pursuit of tangible and intangible legacies for a nation. However, the rising complexity and spiraling expenditures necessary to secure, plan and stage these events require more robust assessment tools to properly measure the cost/benefit of supporting these mega projects. This research paper will contribute to the body of knowledge available to assist franchise holders and policy makers in determining the true legacy benefits that can be derived from hosting a major multi-sport event instead of relying on faith, hope and charity!