Olympic Urbanism

In Olympic Urbanism: Rome to Rio, Judith Grant Long asks whether the requirements of building for the Olympic Games are compatible with the long-term interests of host cities. Drawing on extensive research in former host cities from Rome 1960 to Rio de Janeiro 2016, Long assesses claims that the Olympic Games serve as a catalyst for urban development by comparing the aspirations revealed in host city bid packages with the actual outcomes evident in post-game use of sports venues, athletes‿ and media villages, ceremonial parks, and the transportation and other infrastructure built to accommodate the games. The analysis reveals that urban outcomes have been both better and worse than commonly understood, and points to the changing fortunes of global cities and the evolving business model of the Modern Olympic Movement as key factors in a story that challenges the concept of "Olympic legacy" and recent efforts to "right-size" the games. Calling for more responsible leadership on urban issues from both host cities and the International Olympic Committee, Olympic Urbanism provides guidelines to recalibrate the scale of Olympic infrastructure, to reduce the financial burdens placed upon host cities, and to guide better planning for the Olympic Games as well as other sports mega-events.