Global Events

What is a global event?

• It is an organised event that involving people
from around the world
• It includes reporters, spectators, participants
and delegates
 Sporting events
• It is a multi-billion rand industry
• It strongly impacts the hosting country’s
economy
• Spectators that come from all over the world
are contributing towards, accommodation,
transport, tickets and secondary attractions
• Other contributors include broadcasting
companies, advertisers, sponsors,
merchandisers and marketers
• One of the biggest forms of income
– Selling merchandise
– And other paraphernalia
 Olympic Games
• It is the largest sporting event in the world
• More than 200 countries participant
• Summer, Winter, Paralympics and Youth
Olympics are held every four years.
 Summer Olympics
• Includes more than 45 events:
– Athletics (track and field)
– Wrestling
– Surfing
– Kayaking
– Swimming
– Gymnastics
– Table tennis
 Winter Olympics
• Includes more than 20 events all snow or ice
related:
– Figure skating
– Bobsledding
– Skiing
– Snowboarding
 Federation International Football
Association
• FIFA World Cup
• Second largest sporting event
• Held every four years
• 208 members
• 32 teams qualify to participate in the World
Cup
 Tour de France
• Third largest sporting event in the world
• Annual cycling race that mainly runs through
France.
• Some other countries that the Tour de France
have passed through, include Belgium, England,
Switzerland and Spain
• It runs for three weeks and cover more than
3000km
• The route changes each year, but always ends in
Paris
 Wimbledon
• One of the most prestigious tennis events
• Played on the grass courts of London
• It lasts for about 13 days between June and
July
• Attracts many fans, including the British Royal
family and many celebrities
• Wimbledon traditions include the “all white”
dress code and eating of strawberries and
cream
 The Comrades
• The largest ultra-marathon in the world
• Takes place in June and runs between Durban
and Pietermaritzburg
• It covers a distance of 90km
• Runners have 12 hours to complete the race
• Currently 20 000 runners compete annually
 Other events
• G7 Summit
– June 2024 in Puglia, Italy
– Presidency in Ukraine
– Economic Stability
– International law
– Energy Security
– Migration
• United Nations Climate Change Conference
aka COP
• Limiting climate change
– 2024 Baku, Azerbaijan.
– 2023 COP attracted about 90 000 people,
including heads of state, government officials,
private sector, academia and youth
 The impact of global events on
international tourism
• Positive impacts

• Hosting a global event gives the country an

opportunity to show what the country has to
offer as a tourism destination
• It provides a chance for people to share an
authentic experience with tourists

• It offers a long term relationship with tourists

• This cannot be achieved by advertising

• The host country receives international media
exposure

• The biggest positive impact is financial

• The economic impact can be felt even several
years after the event.
• Visitors spend extra money on
accommodation, food and drinks and
souvenirs during the event.
• Often these visitors will return
• Negative impacts

• Vast amounts of money is spent to prepare for

the event
• It can take years to pay off the debts
• Facilities are built (especially for sport events)
and sometimes these facilities aren’t used
again. E.g. Moses Mabida Stadium
 The impacts of hosting a global event
• Impacts on domestic tourism
• Domestic tourism slows down during a major
event
• Local tourists feel displaced
• Price inflation is a problem
• Impacts on the economy
• There is always a positive impact on the
economy after hosting a major event
• The international tourism increases before,
during and even after a major event
• There is a flow on foreign currency
• There is also an increase in foreign
investments
Advantages and disadvantages for the
host country
• Advantages
• Development and improvement of
infrastructure, such as roads, airports and
accommodation facilities
• Economic growth
• Future international tourism
• Employment opportunities
• Rural development
• Increase in national pride
 `
• Disadvantages
• Facilities after the event may be abandoned
• Domestic tourism slows down
• Host countries could become targets for
terrorism
• Non-sustainable job creation
• Large amounts of debt