Enhancing Economic Growth and Civic Moral Values Through Winter Paralympic Games

Hosting mega events like the Winter Paralympic Games can have several positive effects on the economy and local community. It can increase enthusiasm among locals, boost employment opportunities, and enhance civic moral values. Additionally, it can turn a region into a hub for organizing winter sports events. However, it also requires significant investments in infrastructure such as stadiums and roads, which can lead to heavy debt situations. The PyeongChang 2018 Winter Paralympic Games serves as an example of how hosting such events can have both positive and negative impacts.

SPORT AND EVENT
TOURISM

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Main body .......................................................................................................................................2
Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Sports and event tourism is activity in which travellers involves for participating or
watching the event. It is one of the fastest growing sector and thus contributes for ensuring
growth and success of the nation and respective nation. It is critical that for growing in the sport
tourism sector strategic approaches should be used so that long term benefits could be achieved
through this. There are various international tourism destinations that organize these events and it
aids for supporting for developing the sports tourism in the specific destination. In the present
report Winter Paralympics 2018 has been selected as a mega event that will be organized in the
Pyeongchang South Korea. In the event Paralympians from over 50 nations will take part and it
will be a huge event (Nam, Park and Joo, 2016). More than 1400 athletes will be part of the event
and sports activities in this will be Alpine skiing, Cross-country skiing, wheelchair curling and
Rifle shooting will be major events that will be organized in this. There exist relationship
between sports events and tourism. Sports is a performance based activity where tourism is a
experience based activity. The relationship that exist between tourism and sport event is
compatible and combination of these two fields have given rise to sports tourism (Lee, 2016).
(Source- Pyeongchang 2018)
1
Illustration 1: Winter Paralympics games 2018 logo

It is essential that systematic and strategic approaches should be used so that the event
could be successfully completed. The country has been selected for hosting the event through
bidding process. More than 75 % part of this nation is Mountainous and it has 17 most popular
Ski areas. Climate conditions are favourable for organizing Winter Paralympic games 2018. the
nation has past experience of hosting Summer Olympic games in year 2002 and FIFA World cup.
Main body
Sports tourism is basically an experience for travellers to get engage in activities for
viewing and participating in the sports related events. Sports event tourism is about organizing
mega sports events in which large number of sports people takes part and it is viewed by a big
crowd. Growing popularity of sport tourism event is a major reason due to which authorities
gives emphasis on making investment for organizing such events.
(Source- Pyeongchang 2018)
Situation analysis :-
The winter Paralympics 2018 will be organized in the Pyeongchang South Korea. These games
will be organized from 9-18 March for duration of 10 days. Pyeongchang has been selected as
host nation for organizing the event after it received majority of votes in 123rd International
Olympic council Session which was held in 7 July year 2017. key objectives in Paralympics
games is to ensure prosperity and development of new culture where international culture is
going to be blend with the traditional culture. The host nation will be setting new standards and
new horizons for organizing the games (Ahn, 2017). The event will involve hundred of athletes
representing various nations and Government has South Korea is keen to deliver unique
2
Illustration 2: Olympic games

experience for all the participants and visitors. Tiger and Bear have been selected as Winter
Olympic Mascots and promotions and advertising of games will be done throughout the nation.
The Mascots represents a great combination of Korean and Asian culture and Tiger depicts about
sense of security and protection.
(SOURCE- Pyeongchang 2018)
Host nation Pyeongchang is reinstated as a major pillar that will boost the national
economy by reinventing the economical structure of the nation through sports tourism activities.
The nation also hosted 2013 special Olympics world winter games. In addition to that IBU
Biathlon world championship 2009 was also organized in the nation in successful manner. It
reflects that host nation has previously organized successful mega sports events. Pyeongchang is
the first Asian nation to get privilege of organizing Winter games (Sutherland, Lee and Park,
201). Administration of region has taken several initiatives for preparing for organizing the event.
It requires positive efforts and strategic approaches so that the event could be successfully
organized and long term benefits could be reaped through this (Kim, Choi and Kaplanidou,
2015).
3
I
llustration 3: MASCOTS

Event tourists and motivations :- The mega event of Winter Paralympiacs 201 will be watched
by large number of people. Tourists across globe will come for taking part in this event. It is
important that type of sports tourists for this event should be identified so that strategies could be
made for accommodating them and rendering them various facilities and services. It is important
to gather information about the sports tourist so that action plans for organizing the event in
successful way could be made. Needs and wants of potential tourist could be identified and on the
basis of that steps could be taken for fulfilling their requirement in successful manner (Kim and
Kim, 2015).
The characteristics of several active tourists is that they are going to be individuals from
affluent background. Individuals who are willing for travelling a longer distance for participating
and viewing the games in Winter Paralympic games 2018. People who like to socialize and make
networking with their friends and colleagues also visit such type of events. Biggest motivator for
them is to get socialize with other people and enjoy with them.
College events and students having athlete background also gives preferences for visiting
such events and they come for viewing the sports event. Sports fan are major event tourists that
join the events for encouraging their favourite sports person. In Winter Paralympics 2018 major
events are Alpine skiing, Biathlon, Cross-country Skiing, Ice Sledge Hockey, Snowboarding and
Wheelchair Curling. People interested in these games are major event tourists that will turn for
this sports event. They will come for viewing performance of their favourite sports person and
cheering for the game. Biggest motivator for them is to view live performance of their favourite
sports person and view their games. In addition to this people who love to visit mountainous
place during winter time will also be major tourists that will come during Paralympic games.
Biggest motivator for them is to visit tourist destination sites of Pyeongchang (Kim, 2016).
One more specific attribute of sports tourist is that they tend for engaging in the repeat
activities and they are regular viewer of sports events. Event tourist in the game are likely to be
part of active sports tourism. In future when this type of mega events will be organized in
Pyeongchang than these people will also come back again. It is the main reason for which it is
essential that effective and better services should be provided to tourist likely to be part of this
event. General Public is invited by the authorities for purchasing the tickets for these games. It is
expected that more than 85 % of the tickets will be purchased by tourists seeking to view the
winter games (Ko, Hur and Park, 2016).
4

Impacts :-
There will be social, economic, cultural, environment and financial impact that will be
observed through the Winter Paralympics games 2018 that are organized by host city.
Administration of the region has started preparing for organizing the mega sport event in
successful and effective manner. World class and high facility Ski resort Alpensia is going to be
built and it is under constructions (Oh, 2017). A Olympic stadium is also getting constructed so
that all the sports events could be successfully organized. Efforts are also made to built various
facilities in the region such as hotels and resorts and lodges and guest houses.
Implementation of all the plans is done so that dream mega event Winter Paralympics
2018 can be effectively organized. There are various social and economic impact that will be
observed on the host country through this sport event that is going to be organized in coming
year. Organizing this event is going to be fruitful for the nation and it is going to be an investment
in the tourism industry of South Korea. It will support for creating economic growth by attracting
large number of athletes and travellers to be part of this mega event (Ahn, 2017).
Revenues will be earned through Hotels. Restaurants and other retail establishments.
Local community people will get benefited and they will also get employment opportunities that
will be generated through this sports event. Winter Paralympics 2018 will create exposure for the
nation and develop a positive image for the host community. It will also maximize and enhance
the facility use in the community and will expedites for building community relationships in
effectual manner (Nam, Park and Joo, 2016). It will also generate favourable and positive image
for host destination. New infrastructure will be developed and it will assist for urban regeneration
in the city. Paralympics games will also generate higher and increased rate of tourism growth and
demand in tourism sector.
It will also improve the marketing, organizational and bidding capabilities of the host
community. It is important that positive support should be provided by host community of
Pyeongchang so that the event could be successfully organized. This event will aid for securing
legacy for effectively managing new sports facilities and probability for organizing this type of
event will also enhance through this. Community support will enhance for organizing sports and
other sports events in the nation and favourable image of destination will be created. Sports are
major investment that will be made in the tourism sector and through this high revenues can be
5

earned through this industry (Lee, 2016). Winter Paralympics 2018 will give different types of
impact on host community which is as mentioned :-
Environmental impact :- Pyeongchang is the host destination which will organize Winter
Paralympic games in 2018. This mega event is going to give various impacts on the environment
of the nation. Different aspects of sports can create damage for the environment. Development of
infrastructure and construction activities for sport activities is going to create spoiled acreage.
Constructions of Olympic stadiums and Ski Slopes can cause damage to the environment through
pollution and high damage to natural surrounding. In addition to that increasing number of tourist
will also create land pollution, water pollution and noise pollution. Other peripheral activities
such as transportation, eating, drinking during the events will also give negative impact on the
environment and local community people are going to get harmed through it. One more harm will
be through increase in energy consumption through transportation facilities and it is also going to
harm the surrounding environment of Pyeongchang.
Social impact :- It is required that infrastructure facilities should be developed in the
region so that tourists and athletes can be accommodated. Development of infrastructure such as
hotels, resorts and restaurants will aid for rendering employment opportunities for local
community people. It is also required that transportation facilities should also be improved and it
will also support for encouraging the urban regeneration in the region (Sutherland, Lee and Park,
2015). Host community people will find it as privilege and due to that their enthusiasm and
moral will improve for organizing Winter Paralympiac games 2018. enthusiasm and excitement
of local community of local community will enhance and with this excitement of people and local
authorities will also enhance for managing such events.
It will promote sports tourism and attract visitors across the glove for viewing and
participating in the event. A sharp rise in the voluntarism will be observed and due to that it will
support for making enhancements in the civic moral of the host community people. Cooperation
and joint collaboration of local community people is essential for ensuring success of Winter
games. This sport event will also promote sports and that is going to give positive impact on the
health conditions of the local people. They will enthusiastically participate in the Olympic games
that will be organized in the country (Kim, Choi and Kaplanidou, 2015). However there are some
negative impact also that will be observed and facilities and other physical structures that will be
built will be used for a short period of time and thus it will be used for a very short time period. It
6

will reduce its worth. Still it will leave legacy for organizing other sports games and events in
successful way.
Cultural impact :- Organizing Mega events such as Winter Paralympic games 2018 will
also be going to give cultural impact on the host community people and due to that host
community people are going to get affected through this. This event will provide a medium for
strengthening the national heritage and community spirit among the local people. With this it will
promote cultural and also instigate the regeneration. However there are some negative impact of
sports cultural tourism and it will lead towards crowd disorder and security threats will also be
created through this. Traditional communities will be affected when more number of tourists will
come for visiting the place and loss of cultural heritage will be a major negative impact given by
this mega event (Ko, Hur and Park, 2016).
Economic impact :- Winter Paralympiac games 2018 are going to give economic impact
on the infrastructure of the nation and thus it will aid for ensuring long term growth and success
of the country. Sport and tourism event will contribute towards developing the infrastructure of
the country. Both type of impact are observed on the host community and due to that national and
international position of the nation will be affected. The games will positively support the country
for economic gain and thus it will help for ensuring long term success of the country.
Employment opportunity will be generated for host community people and they will become
capable for earning better living conditions for them. However there are negative impacts also
that are associated with this event (Ahn, 2017).
Short term and long term economic benefits will be observe through e games and thus it will
boost GDP and per capita income in the region. Spending and insertion of finance in the economy
will enhance and it is going to give overall impact on the economy of the country.
However, the funding and investments in the economy will be for a short period of time and due
to that it will become complicated for assessing the long term benefits of organizing Winter
Paralympic games 2018 in the country. One more negative impact will be in the form of
investment that needs to be made for building stadiums and for organizing a big event at the big
level will require huge investments from the side of authorities and the funding that will be used
will be paid by the taxpayers of Pyeongchang (Kim, 2016). It will increase the burden on the tax
payers.
7

Developing infrastructure such as Sports complex and Olympic stadiums requires finance and
funding and it can bring the nation in the conditions of economic debt. This event will aid for
raising position and image of city in international market and it is going to give long term
economic advantage to the nation. Hosting the Paralympic games will prove advantageous and
large number of tourists can be attracted for visiting the nation for participating in the games.
Raised profile of the country will be an added advantage that will support for urban regeneration
of the nation. One of the major benefit that will be reaped through is in the form, of long term
investment that will come through doing preparation for this event. Organizing this event will
leave legacy for managing this type of mega events in future and improvements will be made in
the existing infrastructure and practices that are adopted by the nation (Kim, 2016).
Authorities will make investments in developing the physical infrastructure and public transport
infrastructure so that better amenities and facilities could be delivered to the clients. Public
transport facilities will improved through this and infrastructure of the country will also be
developed. Unemployed people will also be benefited as they will find better job opportunities
for themselves in the tourism sector. Investments in the financial form made in the tourism sector
will help for improving the depressed towns and cities and their regeneration will successfully be
completed. It will also support for boosting the economic output of the country and it will also
revitalise the depressed geographical location of Pyeongchang.
Conclusion
Summing up the present report it can be concluded that Sports and event tourism industry
is growing at a faster pace. There exist relationship between sports, events and tourisms. People
come for viewing and participating in the event and thus it boost the tourism industry of nation.
There are several benefits that are reaped by hosting the sports event and local residents gets
benefited through this. Winter Paralympic Games 2018 will be organized in Pyeongchang South
Korea.
The climatic and economic conditions are favourable in nation for organizing such a mega
event. There are diverse range of impacts that are observed through organizing sports event like
this. Sport events gives influence on the development of tourism destination sites and it also
promotes tourism events in the nation. Tourism demand is enhanced and through this revenues
and profitability of tourism sector can also be enhanced through this. Short term and long term
benefits are observed through organizing such mega events like this and increase in injections and
8

spendings of money in the economy can be enhanced through this. Civic moral values among
local community people is enhanced and through this their positive support for organizing such
event can be enhanced. Winter Olympic games will enhance enthusiasm of local residents for
organizing such events. Employment opportunities will be enhanced for people and with this
boost in economic conditions of nation will be observed. It is required that investments should be
made for developing the infrastructure such as building stadiums and venues, roads and rail lines.
It can give negative impact on the financial status of the nation and due to this heavy debt
situation might be faced by the organization. Organizing this type of Winter Paralympic games
will turn this region into a hub for organizing Winter sports events.
9

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Ahn, Y.J., 2017. Recruitment of volunteers connected with sports mega-events: A case study of
the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Journal of Destination
Marketing & Management.
Kim, A., Choi, M. and Kaplanidou, K., 2015. The role of media in enhancing people’s perception
of hosting a mega sport event: the case of pyeongchang’s winter olympics bids. International
Journal of Sport Communication. 8(1). pp.68-86.
Kim, J.O., 2016. Selling the past: Korea and China's nation-branding to host Winter Olympic
Games. China Media Research. 12(2). pp.23-30.
Kim, M.S. and Kim, I.G., 2015. A Research on Supportive Policy for Domestic Winter Sports on
the Occasion of 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. Indian Journal of Science and
Technology. 8(27).
Ko, J., Hur, S. and Park, D.J., 2016. 28 GHz channel measurements and modeling in a ski resort
town in pyeongchang for 5G cellular network systems. In Antennas and Propagation
(EuCAP), 2016 10th European Conference on (pp. 1-5). IEEE.
Lee, J.W., 2016. A Game for the Global North: The 2018 Winter Olympic Games in
Pyeongchang and South Korean Cultural Politics. The International Journal of the History of
Sport. 33(12). pp.1411-1426.
Nam, J.E., Park, K. and Joo, S., 2016. Very-short range forecasting system for 2018 Pyeonchang
Winter Olympic and Paralympic games. In EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts
(Vol. 18, p. 5694).
Oh, J., 2017. South Korea’s regional disparities and the 2018 Winter Olympics for regional
development: Big Push revisited. International Area Studies Review. 20(2). pp.144-159.
Sutherland, I., Lee, G. and Park, S., 2015. Economic impact and revenue analysis of the Olympic
and Winter Olympic Games. 29(4). pp.91-105.
Online
Pyeongchang 2018. 2017. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.paralympic.org/pyeongchang-2018>. [Accessed on 21th June, 2017].
10