Mega and Giga Events and Host Territories: Challenges and Prospects
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https://doi.org/10.24306/TrAESOP.2026.01.001Published
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Copyright (c) 2026 Marie Delaplace
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Keywords:
Mega-events, urban transformation, sustainability, uncertainty, legacyAbstract
This Outlook explores the future of mega-events through the case of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, arguing that they should be understood not only as global spectacles but also as large-scale urban projects that reshape cities, mobilise significant resources, and generate lasting territorial effects.
The analysis identifies three major challenges. First, environmental sustainability: despite efforts to reduce carbon emissions through innovative construction and mobility strategies, the Olympics’ global scale continues to generate substantial environmental costs. Second, uncertainty: organisers must increasingly respond to climate change, health crises, geopolitical instability, and security threats, which require more adaptive forms of planning and governance. Third, social and political contestation: criticisms related to costs, displacement, surveillance, and uneven benefits challenge the legitimacy of mega-events and raise questions about their long-term legacy.
The Outlook concludes that the future of mega-events will depend on their capacity to balance urban development, environmental responsibility, social acceptance, and resilience in an increasingly uncertain world.
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