The Mega-Event Syndrome: Why So Much Goes Wrong in Mega-Event Planning and What to Do About It

Figures & data

Table 1. The mega-event syndrome: symptoms and consequences.

Symptom	Description	Consequences
1. Overpromising of benefits	Overestimating positive effects of mega-events	· Misallocation of resources· Loss of trust with citizenry
2. Underestimation of costs	Actual budget > planned budget	· Misallocation of resources· Profiteering· Subpar construction quality· Budget shortfalls
3. Event takeover	Event priorities become planning priorities	· Event needs displace urban infrastructure needs· Oversized infrastructure· Unfinished infrastructure
4. Public risk taking	Public takes risk for private benefits	· Public funds for limited or no public benefits· Profiteering
5. Rule of exception	Suspension of regular rule of law	· Displacement· Reduced public oversight· Limited public participation
6. Elite capture	Inequitable distribution of resources	· Spatially uneven urban landscape· Gentrification
7. Event fix	Mega-events become seemingly quick fixes for major planning challenges	· Event determines national priority for funding· Bypassing of regular planning process· Waste of resources on event as lever for urban development

Table 2. Policy changes for curbing the mega-event syndrome.

Radical Changes	Symptoms addressed	Incremental Changes	Symptoms addressed
Avoid tying mega-events to large-scale urban development	1, 2, 3, 5, 7	Seek public participation beginning in the bid stage	3, 4, 6
Bargain with event-governing bodies	2, 3, 4	Fix terms of hosting agreement at the time of bidding	3
Cap and earmark public expenditure	2, 3, 4, 7	Create a separate organization in charge of legacies	3, 4
Seek independent expert assessments	1, 2, 3	Decentralize the event	3
Reduce or cap size and requirements of events	1, 2, 3, 4, 5	Build temporary structures where afteruse is uncertain	3
		Engage in knowledge exchange	2, 3
		Do not bypass regular planning procedures	5, 6