The days of the Olympic Games being an event focused on sport, if they ever existed, are long gone. We now see a heavy emphasis on money and politics in the Games, which is demonstrated by the concept of the Olympic legacy. According to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), “The Olympic Games have the power to deliver lasting benefits which can considerably change a community, its image and its infrastructure” (International Olympic Committee [IOC], 2013). These apparent benefits are what the IOC defines as the Olympic legacy, essentially it is the positive outcome that is left behind once the Games move on. A positive Olympic legacy is important for both the host city and the IOC. For the host city, a positive outcome allows justification
…show more content…
The city needs to accommodate tourists, Olympic teams from across the world, journalists, and more. The city also requires multiple venues in which to host the Olympic events. More than this, a host city needs to impress all of these parties. Impress the tourists, and the teams from across the world, the journalists and the people looking at the sporting venues on their television at home. The Olympic Games are an opportunity to present a hosting city as an attractive opportunity for public, private and international investment, as well as tourism. Essentially, the world is watching, and host cities want to look good. To capitalize on this opportunity for a global stage, the infrastructure created for the Olympics must be of high quality. Following the Games, these high quality institutions demand a high price that those of low income who previously lived in and around the area cannot afford. This sharp increase in real-estate value following the Games, is a large contributor to the common association between displacement of low-income individuals and the Olympics (Hiller, 2006). Furthermore, the Olympics demand large, open spaces, which are designed to be visually appealing. Following the Games, these spaces are impractical for future use which cause them to be underused and in extreme cases, this results in the demolition of Olympic facilities (Searle, 2002). Finally, the most unfortunate urban legacy of the Olympic Games is the displacement of homeless populations who often reside in the so called downtrodden urban areas and unused real estate which host countries seek to revitalize. The homeless are removed from these areas both to increase space for development, and remove populations who are undesirable to the host city’s image (Kennelly & Watt,
The city needs to accommodate tourists, Olympic teams from across the world, journalists, and more. The city also requires multiple venues in which to host the Olympic events. More than this, a host city needs to impress all of these parties. Impress the tourists, and the teams from across the world, the journalists and the people looking at the sporting venues on their television at home. The Olympic Games are an opportunity to present a hosting city as an attractive opportunity for public, private and international investment, as well as tourism. Essentially, the world is watching, and host cities want to look good. To capitalize on this opportunity for a global stage, the infrastructure created for the Olympics must be of high quality. Following the Games, these high quality institutions demand a high price that those of low income who previously lived in and around the area cannot afford. This sharp increase in real-estate value following the Games, is a large contributor to the common association between displacement of low-income individuals and the Olympics (Hiller, 2006). Furthermore, the Olympics demand large, open spaces, which are designed to be visually appealing. Following the Games, these spaces are impractical for future use which cause them to be underused and in extreme cases, this results in the demolition of Olympic facilities (Searle, 2002). Finally, the most unfortunate urban legacy of the Olympic Games is the displacement of homeless populations who often reside in the so called downtrodden urban areas and unused real estate which host countries seek to revitalize. The homeless are removed from these areas both to increase space for development, and remove populations who are undesirable to the host city’s image (Kennelly & Watt,