Article
Non-Host City Olympic Legacies: The Case of Athens, Georgia and the 1996 Olympic Games
Journal of Sport Management
(2021)
Abstract
Given the need to use additional locations to host Olympic events beyond the host city, very little research investigates these ‘non-host cities’ and their resultant event legacies. As such, the purpose of this exploratory study was to develop a better understanding of non-host city legacies experienced in relation to the hosting of an edition of the Olympic Games. A case study focusing on Athens, Georgia and the 1996 Olympic Games held in Atlanta, USA was used to illustrate this particular phenomenon of interest. Findings revealed five emergent legacy themes: nostalgia, urban development, volunteering, community engagement, and sport development. Moreover, three major factors (planning approach, external factors, and image) created a different Games experience in Athens and thereby distinguished its legacies from ones created in Atlanta. Challenges and issues associated with providing event legacies in non-host cities are also discussed.
Keywords
- Mega event,
- Olympic Games,
- Legacy,
- Non-host cities,
- Atlanta 1996
Disciplines
Publication Date
2021
DOI
10.1080/24704067.2019.1636401
Citation Information
Hoff, K. J., & Leopkey, B. (2021). Non-host city Olympic legacies: The case of Athens, Georgia and the 1996 Olympic Games. Journal of Global Sport Management, 6(3), 333-355. Doi: 10.1080/24704067.2019.1636401