This paper assesses the outcomes of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, examining the costs and economic impact of the event, the prospects for the long-term use of venues and infrastructure, and the attitudes of the global and the Russian population. It finds that total costs were...

There is considerable ambiguity about what makes an event a mega-event. Intervening in this debate, this paper develops a definition and classification scheme for mega-events. On the basis of a review of existing definitions, it proposes four constitutive dimensions of mega-events: visitor...

This paper develops the notion of “event seizure” to better understand how mega-events, and the elites associated with them, take possession of host cities and societies – of development plans, funds and legislation – and impose their priorities on cities and citizens. It illustrates how...

Temporary geographical proximity in the form of face-to-face contact is commonly thought to enhance learning. In a sample of individuals (n= 294) involved in knowledge transfer in the Olympic Games, temporary geographical proximity emerges as a rather weak predictor of learning, although its...