An Analysis of the Sustainability Impacts of the London Olympics 2012

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the sustainability of the London Olympics 2012, examining both its positive and negative impacts on the host city. The introduction defines mega-events and sets the context by focusing on the London Olympics. The main body delves into the economic growth, decrease in unemployment, and promotional benefits the event brought to London. It also addresses negative consequences, such as increased pollution, resource wastage, and short-term investment. The report further discusses strategies for dealing with the aftermath, including developmental initiatives, safety measures to mitigate environmental issues, and the reuse of resources. The conclusion summarizes the key findings, emphasizing the need for balanced consideration of both the advantages and disadvantages associated with mega-events and the importance of effective post-event management. The report references several books and journals to support its findings, including works by Feddersen and Maennig, Arnegger and Herz, and others.

Sustainability of
Mega Events

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Mega events refers to programs at large level such as Olympic Games and World Cups of
any one of international sports. It involves decision making of political decision making and
strategies of government of particular nation for conduct huge event at great level. Moreover, for
carrying out these big programs the government of host country takes several steps before and
spend lots of money to organize everything in an appropriate manner (Feddersen and Maennig,
2013). The present report is based on London Olympics 2012 which was conducted formally
Games of the XXX Olympiad. It was am international multi- sports event that was held from 27
July to 12 August 2012 in London, United Kingdom. This assignment will focus of positive and
negative impacts after completion of the given event on host city.
MAIN BODY
The mega events are usually carried out at large levels through spending huge amount of
expense and large number of people are involved in this program. In context to London
Olympics which was organized in the yer 2012 for conducting formal games of XXX Olympiad.
The host city established London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) to
foresee staging the games to attain success of bid. In this event, around 204 countries participates
with their almost 10,768 sports persons. Host city was focused on approximately to maintain new
200-hectare (490-acre) Olympic Park, constructed on a former industrial site at Stratford, East
London. Apart from this, several positive as well as negative impacts are observed in London
after completion of after the same mega event (Arnegger and Herz, 2016).
Positive impacts
Economic growth – The mega events are responsible for generating funds at large level
which provide support to gain strong economic growth of host city. It is observed that many of
people visit host city to participate or enjoys the sports events and they also spend their free time
by visiting other tourists places of London which facilitates to boost up annual income.
Moreover, number of visitors are increased due to Mega event and citizens from different places
stay for specific period of time, travel one place to another and visit various historical places,
museums or exhibitions (Locatelli and Mancini, 2014). Additionally, these overall activities of
people required money which is spent by them and gained by host city so that better growth of
economy of London can be achieved after conducting this Olympics.
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Decrease unemployment – The mega events are helpful to decrease unemployment of
city by providing various employment opportunities of people of host city. There are various
kinds of facilities which are required to be provided to people coming from different foreign
countries due to which companies are needed to hire more staff members to render services
appropriately (Kassens-Noor and et. al., 2015). In case of London, around 807 enterprises have
already won over £3.5 bn of work supplying the Olympic delivery authority in which around 68
% are of small & medium sized and 98 % are UK based. Moreover, organisations get involved
in contracts with games and they are required to recruit extra manpower for completing their
commitments regarding deal of Olympics. Additionally, it will help to reduce factor of
unemployment from London around 88 % which results into improved standards of living of
local people in the same city.
Promotion of Host City – The Olympics is large scale vent in which millions of people
are involves as volunteers, workers, players and viewers. It is supportive in terms of promotion
of particular host city in front of whole world. In context to London Olympics, the logo is truly
awful which could trigger epilepsy and influence other people who were enjoying games through
television or internet to visit the city physically. It also involves cultural integration and social
regeneration. Moreover, several promotional activities were takes place during sports matches in
which they display tourist places of London which facilitates attract new visitors along with
retaining the current ones. Additionally, these promotional techniques motivates people to visit
more historical places who were stayed in London for enjoying matches live. Thus, all such
methods are helpful to raise funds in overall income of London which make economic condition
strong effectively and boost up prestige of country (Tzanelli, 2015).
Negative impacts
Increased Pollution – This refers to rapid increase in pollution of specific city due to
visit of thousands of people which results into more utilization of vehicles for transportation
along with delivering products. At time of Olympics, number of activities get increased due to
which pollution in environment rapidly enhanced and it is responsible for toxicity of
environmental gases that are in haled by human being. Additionally, other relevant issues are
also created such as extinction of species, global warming and ozone depletion which is not good
of living beings of London. Thus, government of host city have to spend more efforts to sort out
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arisen natural issues and people may face problems regarding health due to unfavorable situation
of climate in London.
Wastage of resources – This factor is very much true because more people visit London
and they required resources in which it is observed that more wastage takes place in large
population. Several committees are organized by government to look after overall management
and administration of this mega event so that it can be conducted in appropriate manner without
facing any major issue (Misener and et. al., 2015). Moreover, resources of London get wasted
during this events which can be considered as loss for them. The aim pf conducting this events in
London is to improve economy, gain profits and promote city world wide. Additionally, waste of
sources, damaging of equipment or other threats arisen during whole program are all aftermath
expenses for authority of London. Thus, it is a negative impact on economy of given city due to
facing loss in terms of wasting resources and repair damaged instruments.
Investment in Short term – This can be described about huge amount of investment
which is done for organizing mega events such as London Olympics and preparation are started
from along time. At same time, they carried out various activities and spent money in millions
but it provide profits for short duration of time and after that profitability starts decreases. In
context of given event, around US$14,600,000,000 spent for carrying out overall preparation of
conducting the games. Additionally, many of facilities can be used within three weeks of
duration of event and after that, there is danger of 'White elephants project' in which services are
not reused effectively and efficiently. For example, similar to the Millennium Dome.
Deal with aftermath of London Olympics
There are various kinds of positive and negative impacts of London Olympics which are
faced by selected city but required to deal with aftermath of mega event in an appropriate way. It
is necessary to utilize postie aspects properly which facilitates to develop overall city and
respective country in proper manner (Dogru, 2016). Moreover, negative effects are necessarily
sort out by putting efforts in an effective as well as efficient way to reduce loss of host city.
Development of London – The government authorities can utilize raised funds from
Olympics into developmental procedures which helps to maintain standards of living of local
people. It will facilitates to make city more effective and also they can implement money to
tourism sector for attractive more visitors towards London.
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Take safety measures – This includes to solve environmental issues like pollution which
is increased after Olympics which can be reduced by taking several safety measures. It involves
to address common citizens of given city by legal committees to contribute their efforts that can
help collectively to decrease particular problem of environment properly.
Apply techniques to reuse resources – Wastage of resources takes place during whole
event then it is required for them to apply effective methods of reusing these sources. It will
facilitates to reduce loss of resource in an appropriate manner along with overcoming with
overall losses in funds (Gorokhov, 2015).
Hold other event by bidding – This involves factor of investment in short term which
provides profits for less duration of time then it is essential to make strategies for maintaining
profitability in appropriate manner. In context to London, government authorities cam bid for
other events like Para Olympics and other mega programs for achieving benefits for long time.
CONCLUSION
The above report is conclude that mega events can be described as those programs which
are carried out at large level such as Olympic Games and World Cups. It includes description
about several positive as well as negative impacts of London Olympics after completion of the
same. This involves certain positive effects such as economic growth, decrease unemployment
and promotion of host city in front of whole world. Additionally, few of negative impacts are
also discuss like wastage of resources, investment is short term, increased pollution and other
similar problems including global warming & ozone depletion. At last but not the least, methods
to deal with after math of London Olympics is mentioned here.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Feddersen, A. and Maennig, W., 2013. Mega‐Events and sectoral employment: The case of the
1996 Olympic Games. Contemporary Economic Policy. 31(3). pp.580-603.
Arnegger, J. and Herz, M., 2016. Economic and destination image impacts of mega-events in
emerging tourist destinations. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management. 5(2).
pp.76-85.
Kassens-Noor, E. and et. al., 2015. Towards a mega-event legacy framework. Leisure Studies.
34(6). pp.665-671.
Tzanelli, R., 2015. Socio-cultural mobility and mega-events: Ethics and aesthetics in Brazil’s
2014 world cup. Routledge.
Misener, L. and et. al., 2015. Leveraging parasport events for sustainable community
participation: The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Annals of Leisure Research.
18(4). pp.450-469.
Dogru, T., 2016. Development of the Hotel Industry in China: Mega-Events, Opportunities, and
Challenges. E-review of Tourism Research. 13.
Gorokhov, V. A., 2015. Forward Russia! Sports mega-events as a venue for building national
identity. Nationalities Papers. 43(2). pp.267-282.
Locatelli, G. and Mancini, M., 2014. Controlling the delivering of projects in mega-events: An
application on EXPO 2015. Event Management. 18(3). pp.285-301.
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