IMPACT OF MEGA SPORT EVENTS ON TOURISM DESTINATIONS DEVELOPMENT: THE CASE OF OLYMPIC GAMES IN SOCHI

Abstract

Velike sportske manifestacije izazivaju globalnu pozornost i imaju izrazito velik utjecaj na zemlju odnosno grad domaćina. Bez obzira na velik broj dugoročnih i kratkoročnih ekonomskih koristi za zemlju domaćina, vlada kriza interesa za domaćinstvo Olimpijskih igara prije svega zbog milijunskih troškova organizacije. Zahtjevi prema gradovima domaćinima su veliki. Uz sportske kapacitete, potrebno je osigurati olimpijsko selo sportašima, smještaj organizatorima, medijima, gostima, transport i još dosta drugih popratnih stvari. Već i sam proces kandidiranja, prije nego se uopće krene s organizacijom, može biti prilično skup. U ovom diplomskom radu, na primjeru Olimpijskih igara u Sočiju koje slove za jedne od najskupljih u povijesti, analiziraju se prije svega negativni utjecaji velikih sportskih manifestacija na turizam i odnos troškova i koristi organizacije. Neiskorištena infrastruktura čije održavanje stoji milijune dolara, proračunski minusi, nezadovoljstvo lokalnog stanovništva i pad podrške istog za takvim manifestacijama rezultat su neprilagođene strategije organiziranja takve manifestacije za što je Soči odličan primjer jer je kao grad s suptropskom klimom bio domaćin Zimskim olimpijskim igrama.Mega sport events attract global attention and have a huge impact on the host country or city. Despite the large number of long-term and short-term economic benefits to the host country, there is a crisis of interest in hosting the Olympic Games, primarily due to enormous costs related to the organization of events. Requirements for host cities are high. In addition to sports facilities, it is necessary to provide the Olympic Village with athletes, accommodation for organisers, media, guests, transportation and many other related costs. The very process of applying, before moving on with the organization at all, can be quite expensive. In this master thesis, the example of the Sochi Olympics, which is considered one of the most expensive in history, will highlight the negative impacts of major sporting events on tourism in the country and the balance between cots and benefits of hosting the event. Unused infrastructure worth millions of dollars, budget holes, dissatisfaction of the local population and a decline in support for such events are the result of an unadapted strategy for organizing such a manifestation. Sochi stands as a prime example because it hosted the Winter Olympics as a subtropical climate