Pacification & Mega-events in Rio de Janeiro: Urbanization, Public Security & Accumulation by Dispossession

This paper outlines how Brazil's latest public security initiative-its highly controversial Police Pacification Campaign (UPP)-is an integral component of a neoliberal political framework that is enacting rapid urbanization projects in and around strategically located favelas (informal settlements or slums) of Rio de Janeiro. Specifically, it evaluates what kinds of economic development initiatives are moving forward, how they are facilitated by the UPP, how they connect to the city's mega-events, and who is profiting from them. The article also examines how the pacification has affected residents in three favelas over a seven-year period from the inauguration of the UPP in 2008 through to mid-2015

Sustainable and Livable Open Spaces in the City of Doha: an Investigation into the Legacies of Mega Sport Events

With the aim of diversifying its economy and developing itself as a tourist destination, in recent years, Qatar has hosted many international sports events and will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Doha, its capital city, is literally under construction, and is facing important changes in terms of transportation, infrastructure, and sports facilities. However, past experiences show that outcomes from staging major events are mostly harmful, and their legacies planned to last only for a short time. This trend is even stronger when considering how sports facilities and their surroundings are utilized after the event is over. Usually, sports venues are under-used and very costly to maintain, while their neighborhoods are underutilized and abandoned pieces of cities. What will be left after the 2022 World Cup? How to leverage this event as a momentum of experimentation and sustainable growth of its capital city, Doha? Within this context, the aim of this research is to identify strategies to plan and maximize the post-event use of event sites and venues, and make their neighborhoods more livable and sustainable. The research has a specific focus on the city of Doha, which hosted the 2006 Asian Games and will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. It starts with a critical review of relevant precedents from the Western and Eastern world, and then continues with an in-depth analysis of three selected case studies: the cities of London, Sochi, and Rio de Janeiro that recently hosted major sports events. Finally, the study focuses on the context of Doha, investigating firstly its public spaces, and transport and planning systems, and then analyzing the government’s legacy plans for the 2022 World Cup. Results include firstly a framework for the comprehensive appraisal of site events and venues, by evaluating their sustainable legacies and assessing their impacts; secondly, the research define a set of recommendations for organizing committees and host cities to help them transform sports venues and events sites into lasting, sustainable and livable open public spaces, and, more generally, to define strategies for achieving successful legacies from the host of mega sports events.Qatar National Research Fund GSRA1-1-1119-1300

The role of mega-events in sustainable urban transformation and urban quality promotion

Tese de Doutoramento (Programa Doutoral em Engenharia Civil)This thesis developed a sustainable urban sport mega-event model for host cities providing a complete process from urban planning, management to the event organization. The proposed model is assembled through the reviewing of sport mega-events' impacts on host cities. The literature review previously undertaken explored sport mega-events' impacts and their relation with urban sustainability based on physical, environmental, economic and sociocultural dimensions. The research examines the alignment of event planning and implementation actions within a set of urban sustainable development objectives selected from a group of 63 indicators on a range of outcomes and impacts of the most recent sport mega-events. This thesis evaluated the role of mega-events in sustainable urban transformation and urban quality promotion in Rio de Janeiro, with the main objective of exploring if 2016 Olympics succeeded in transforming the city in a sustainable way through hosting sport mega-events. The impacts were then assessed through a survey given to Brazilian experts about the Olympics in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The survey indicates the same results as the literature review about the sport mega event impacts in developing countries. The experts' opinions pointed out that the huge expenditures on large-scale projects and sport infrastructures that are so different from daily requirements do not meet the needs of the majority of Rio's inhabitants. The statistical quantitative analysis of impacts intensity highlighted that this sport mega-event had much larger negative than positive impacts, in all four dimensions, especially in the environmental dimension. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the role of hosting the mega-events in urban transformations and quality promotion, an in-depth investigation especially in physical and environmental dimensions was undertaken for the case study of Rio de Janeiro. All these research techniques, literature review, modeling, assemblage of indicators, survey of experts and case study analysis of four Olympic zones, were relevant in detecting the challenges that a host city may face. Overall, the three fold evaluation including the survey on expert's views, sustainability assessment through impact indicators and also the evidence from the Olympic zones (Barra, Deodoro, Maracanã and Copacabana) validates the standpoint that there is little improvement in terms of sustainable urban transformation. This thesis also discussed the relationship between impact indicators and urban sustainability. A slight alignment was found in terms of eventrelated transport expansion in the city and green spaces improvement, especially in the Deodoro zone. Therefore, management system in cities of the developing countries often does not benefit from event-related transformation. In this way, effective governance of hosting a sport mega-event is necessary to drive sustainable development. The application of the proposed model helps to improve event planning, management and organization processes in order to achieve a more sustainable urban development in the host cities, especially in developing countries.Esta tese desenvolveu um modelo de megaevento desportivo urbano sustentável para as cidades anfitriãs, compreendendo todo o processo desde o planeamento urbano até à organização do evento. O modelo proposto foi construído com base na revisão bibliográfica sobre os impactos dos megaeventos desportivos nas cidades anfitriãs. A revisão da literatura realizada explorou os impactos dos megaeventos desportivos e sua relação com a sustentabilidade urbana, a partir de dimensões físicas, ambientais, económicas e socioculturais. A investigação analisou a implementação das ações de planeamento com a realização dos eventos, integrada em um conjunto de objetivos de desenvolvimento urbano sustentável selecionados a partir de um grupo de 63 indicadores relativos a resultados e impactos dos megaeventos desportivos mais recentes. Esta tese avaliou o papel dos megaeventos na transformação urbana sustentável e na promoção da qualidade urbana no Rio de Janeiro, com o objetivo de analisar se as Olimpíadas de 2016 conseguiram transformar a cidade de forma sustentável por meio da realização desse megaevento desportivo. Os impactos foram então avaliados por meio de um inquérito a especialistas brasileiros sobre as Olimpíadas na cidade do Rio de Janeiro. Os resultados deste inquérito são semelhantes aos obtidos na revisão da literatura sobre os impactos de mega eventos desportivo nos países em desenvolvimento. As opiniões dos especialistas realçam que apesar das despesas elevadas em projetos de grande escala e infraestruturas desportivas, estas não respondem às necessidades diárias da maioria dos habitantes do Rio de Janeiro. A análise estatística quantitativa da intensidade dos impactos destaca que este megaevento desportivo teve muito mais impactos negativos do que positivos, nas quatro dimensões, especialmente na ambiental. A fim de obter uma compreensão aprofundada do papel dos megaeventos nas transformações urbanas e na promoção da qualidade urbana, realizou-se uma investigação detalhada, especialmente nas dimensões física e ambiental, para o estudo de caso do Rio de Janeiro. Todas estas técnicas de análise, revisão da literatura, modelação, seleção de indicadores, auscultação da opinião de especialistas e análise de estudo de caso das quatro zonas olímpicas, foram relevantes na determinação dos desafios que uma cidade-anfitriã pode enfrentar. A avaliação tríplice, incluindo a perspetiva dos especialistas, a avaliação da sustentabilidade por meio de indicadores de impacto e também a análise detalhada das zonas olímpicas (Barra, Deodoro, Maracanã e Copacabana), valida a hipótese da ocorrência de pequenas melhorias de transformação urbana sustentável. Esta tese também analisa a relação entre indicadores de impacto e sustentabilidade urbana. Foi encontrada uma correlação, ainda que fraca, entre o megaevento e a expansão do sistema de transporte na cidade e o acréscimo de espaços verdes, especialmente na zona de Deodoro. Em suma, os sistemas de planeamento e gestão urbana das cidades anfitriãs dos países em desenvolvimento, não beneficiam muitas vezes da transformação relacionada com o megaevento. Neste contexto, a relevância da governança é determinante para impulsionar o desenvolvimento sustentável. A aplicação do modelo proposto permite melhorar os processos de planeamento, gestão e organização de megaeventos, especialmente nos países em desenvolvimento

International Mega-Events and Urban Planning in the Context of Toronto

This paper explores mega-events and their relationship to urban planning and public participation. Mega-events, often referred to as hallmark events, are short-term, high profile spectacles that have a massive popular appeal, a large mediated reach, and international significance (Hall, 1992; Roche, 2000). Mega-events include major fairs, festivals, expositions, such as the World Expo and significant sporting events like the Olympic games and the FIFA World Cup. For many cities, mega-events are an alluring urban strategy that “promises” tangible and intangible benefits for cities and nations (Burbank et al., 2001). These short-lived events can have tremendous influence over urban spaces, built environments, and city populations (Greenhalgh, 1988; Roche, 2003). Given their impacts, it should not be a surprise that these events have encountered various forms of resistance (Lenskyj, 2008; Cottrell, 2011; Gotham, 2016). A significant amount of this opposition focuses on the lack of accountability, transparency, and public engagement that is often seen in the various mega-event hosting processes (Kidd, 1992; Flyvbjerg, 2003; Hall, 2006). Those that oppose these events critique the undemocratic nature of decision-making processes used to bid for and plan hallmark events (Kidd, 1992; Gotham, 2011). Through this essay, I will argue why participatory planning strategies must be used for the development of inclusive decision-making processes in mega-event planning within the city of Toronto. I will argue that although public engagement and a commitment to participatory planning has seemingly been devalued in the city’s history of pursuing the hosting of a hallmark event, they are essential components for the successful and equitable bidding and planning of such events. I believe participatory planning can be used for the meaningful consideration of various public interests and the creation of a “hosting concept/vision” that works towards the advancement of varying city priorities across a wide range of local communities. When thinking of how to engage varying communities in mega-event planning processes, it is vital to consider what engagement approaches have been used in previous mega-event hosting attempts, and what future strategies are recommended for the city of Toronto

Management of Health and Safety Risks at Large Events

This chapter details and guides managers and researchers to consider organisational culture, risk management systems, procedures, principles, and processes to manage larger events successively and effectively without any potential tragedies, harms, and risks. It begins with the conceptual understanding of events and how the event organising involves managing health and safety risks. Health and safety management in such situations consists of organised efforts and procedures for identifying workplace hazards and reducing accidents and exposure to harmful situations and substances. The events are organised with different purposesm and each event has a unique blending of durations, seating, management, and people. This is further followed by risk management planning, which assists event organisers in devising and conducting events in the safest possible manner while mitigating losses. HSE England commissioned a study in 2012 and found a range of potential risks and remedies at major events. The main risk identified were design and construction, public health and safety risks, airborne and communicable diseases, non-infectious risk, respiratory diseases, road traffic accident, crowd control, strain on healthcare, workplace violence, fires, etc. Managing a safe event involves planning, assessing risks, precautions measure and corrective and perverting actions, contingency, emergency planning and procedures, effective communications, managing crowd and resources, review, and reflection. The primary legislation covering occupational health and safety in Britain is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, which makes employers responsible for the management of health and safety. It sets out the general duties which employers have towards employees and members of the public, and employees have to themselves and to each other. The last section discusses main principles of a H&S risk management policy followed by some case studie

Mega event management of formula one grand prix: an analysis of literature

Purpose A comprehensive literature review of mega event management of dynamic sporting events is presented. The purpose of this paper is to learn from these mega events to prescribe mitigation strategies for improving cost performance while simultaneously minimising public disruption on formula one grand prix events. Knowledge accrued of challenges posed is theoretically applied to circuit construction and reestablishment processes involved in orchestrating a “street circuit” grand prix event. Design/methodology/approach An inductive research methodological approach was adopted using an interpretivist epistemological design. A mixed methods analysis of pertinent extant literature of mega events afforded greater synthesis of the research problem domain and generated more valid and reliable findings. The software VOSviewer was used to conduct a qualitative bibliographic analysis of pertinent extant literature. Findings Three thematic groups of past research endeavour emerged from the analysis and were assigned appropriate nomenclature, namely: customer experience; geographical location; and research methods and approaches adopted. Analysis of these clusters revealed common factors that impact upon construction works during mega sporting events including: inclement weather conditions; miscommunication between project stakeholders; and economic impact upon the local community. Factors for mitigating these risks were also proposed, namely: traffic management plans; shift working; and wider public consultation. Originality/value This unique study provides invaluable insight into construction works commissioned and implemented at a mega “motor sports” public event. Although the research context was narrowly defined, findings presented are equally applicable to contractors, organisers and public authorities orchestrating other types of public event. The research concludes with direction for future work that seeks to apply the lessons learnt and measure the impact of findings presented herein

Assessing the impacts of COVID-19 on activity-travel scheduling: A survey in the greater Toronto area

The COVID-19 lockdown provided many individuals an opportunity to explore changes in their daily routines, particularly when considered in combination with an ever-changing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) landscape. These new routines and alternative activities have the potential to be continued in the post-COVID era. Transportation planners must understand how routines vary to effectively estimate activity-travel scheduling. The purpose of this study is to determine the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on activity-travel behavior and the adoption of ICT-based alternative options. A special emphasis is placed on predicting the long-term effects of this disturbance on activity-travel scheduling. This study examines the changes in the frequency and mode of completing five of the most repetitious tasks in the daily schedule (working, grocery and non-grocery shopping, preparing/eating meals, and visiting family/friends) during the lockdown and immediately after reopening. We find an increased preference for home meal preparation over online ordering and a reluctance to engage in in-person shopping until a substantial proportion of the population has acquired a vaccination against the virus. Respondents prefer to work from home if they have adequate access to home office materials (e.g., desk, chair, computer monitor). Individuals with children must also consider suitable childcare before considering a return to work

An application of the sports logistics framework: the case of the Dallas Cowboys

Global, national and regional sport organizations heavily rely on logistics management practices in their operations. However, scientific research in sports logistics is in its infancy, with conceptualizations of the sport logistics domain proposed only recently. In response and by using a reoccurring professional sport event as a case, this study applies the Sports Logistics Framework (SLF) to systematically assess logistics activities, organizational structures, resources and components. Based on semi-structured interviews, unstructured participant observation, internal documents and additional secondary data, our findings not only provide insights into the logistics operations behind a matchday of one of the leading and most valuable sport competitions in the world, but also contextualize, illustrate and refine the logistical tasks of the SLF, thereby providing a template which can be used for further comparison and examination of logistics activities at similar sport events

An application of the sports logistics framework: the case of the Dallas Cowboys

Global, national and regional sport organizations heavily rely on logistics management practices in their operations. However, scientific research in sports logistics is in its infancy, with conceptualizations of the sport logistics domain proposed only recently. In response and by using a reoccurring professional sport event as a case, this study applies the Sports Logistics Framework (SLF) to systematically assess logistics activities, organizational structures, resources and components. Based on semistructured interviews, unstructured participant observation, internal documents and additional secondary data, our findings not only provide insights into the logistics operations behind a matchday of one of the leading and most valuable sport competitions in the world, but also contextualize, illustrate and refine the logistical tasks of the SLF, thereby providing a template which can be used for further comparison and examination of logistics activities at similar sport events

Is Evolutionary Computation evolving fast enough?

Evolutionary Computation (EC) has been an active research area for over 60 years, yet its commercial/home uptake has not been as prolific as we might have expected. By way of comparison, technologies such as 3D printing, which was introduced about 35 years ago, has seen much wider uptake, to the extent that it is now available to home users and is routinely used in manufacturing. Other technologies, such as immersive reality and artificial intelligence have also seen commercial uptake and acceptance by the general public. In this paper we provide a brief history of EC, recognizing the significant contributions that have been made by its pioneers. We focus on two methodologies (Genetic Programming and Hyper-heuristics), which have been proposed as being suitable for automated software development, and question why they are not used more widely by those outside of the academic community. We suggest that different research strands need to be brought together into one framework before wider uptake is possible. We hope that this position paper will serve as a catalyst for automated software development that is used on a daily basis by both companies and home users