What drives cities to pursue large-scale, high-profile events like the Olympic games? What are the consequences for citizens and local governments? Investigating local politics in three U.S. cities—Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Salt Lake City—as they vied for the role of Olympic host, this book provides a compelling narrative of the evolving political economy of modern megaevents. The authors reveal how the megaevent strategy typically is initiated by a coalition of public and private elites; how citizen involvement is managed and often curtailed; and how latent development agendas are revived and refocused to leverage Olympic opportunities. In assessing the impact of megaevent-driven growth, they look beyond the tax revenues and stadium costs to offer a nuanced examination of the ways Olympic dreams affect local governance and social conditions in urban economies.