Category: Olympic Games

The history of the Olympic Games can be traced back to 3000 years ago (Young & Wamsley, 2005). In ancient Greece, physical excellence was celebrated during religious events. To appease their gods, the inhabitants of ancient Greece founded the Olympic Games.

During its inception, the Olympic Games were held every four years. Participants comprised of individuals from several cities across Greece. These games were held at Zeus in Olympia. At the time, the Olympic Games comprised of athletics and combat activities.

Prior to the onsets of the games, all major activities such as wars were postponed to give time for the games. Currently, the games have gone international and are held every four years.

Just like during its inception, the games are held to celebrate physical excellence and to play cultural, economic, and political roles (Coakley, 2007).

This paper focuses on why the Olympics should be continued based on its contributions to global community connection and positive power of human beings.

Global community connection

Ever since its inception, Olympics games have been used as a cultural event. Currently, the games have attracted thousands of participants and millions of audience from all over the world.

Compared to any other sport, the Olympic Games are considered the leading sports event about the affairs of public interests. Modern Olympic Games are not confined to one region. As such, after every four years, the games are hosted in a designated location.

Thus, through this approach, the games attract several individuals with different race, culture, religion, and languages in one place.

Through this approach, mass communications among these individuals have been made possible. When these games are held, African, Western, and Eastern cultures merge on international platforms.

Olympic Games do not only benefit the participators and the audience but also the millions of individuals who follow the events from their televisions (Roleff, 2009).

With the expansion in mass media technologies, individuals can now follow the proceedings of the Olympic Games from the comfort of their homes.

This has not only helped the sport to be popular but has also enabled fans from across the world to appreciate and acknowledge cultures, religions, and languages of other individuals.

Before the Olympic Games became popular, in the early 20^th century, the events were marred with racisms (Woods, 2007).

However, with the increased popularity of the game individuals from different races, classes, and religion have been approved equal rights to participate in the events.

Given the fact that the Olympic Games are meant to increase cultural diversification, event organizers should strive to ensure that the public makes the best out of the events.

Ever since the Olympic Games were internationalized, it has played huge political roles. Due to the Olympic Games, several countries have become friends.

For instance, through ping-pong diplomacy, the USA and China strengthened their political relations (Hennessy & Chesworth, 1996). Ping-pong diplomacy program was started in the 1970s. Through the program, China and the USA were able to exchange their table tennis players.

In the year 1971, the USA’s tennis players received an invitation letter to China from the tennis players in China. Before the start of their exchange program, the Chinese tennis players were very prominent worldwide for their diplomatic contributions.

On the other hand, from the year 1949 America had stopped sending its delegation to China. However, following the invitation, the country sent the team together with their journalist to China in April 1971. Out of this diplomatic relation, several benefits were realized by the two countries.

When one of the American players returned home, he informed the media that he was amazed at how the Chinese people were alike to the Americans. According to his report, the Chinese were honest, hospitable, and social people.

Through his remarks, the stereotypes that the people of America held against the Chinese were reduced (Oxlade & Ballheimer, 2000). Equally, through the exchange programs open negotiations between the two countries were initiated.

The benefits of these negotiations were realized in the year 2008 when Richard Nixon visited China. Similarly, it is believed that through the negotiations China managed to be the host of the Beijing Olympics of 2008.

Positive power of human beings

In every successful sportsperson, there are lessons the public can learn. All Olympic champions have trainers who coach and motivate them to achieve their best. As such, these sportspersons have been prepared to have the determinations and mindsets of champions.

More often, these individuals have to persevere exhausting training exercise to be successful. In this regard, we should learn from the experiences of these champions. In our business, we can learn several lessons from Olympic athletes.

As such, we should have the determination that our business will be successful. With that in mind, we should do our very best to ensure that all the plans aimed at achieving our business goals are implemented.

This might require us to seek mentorship and coaching from other experience business players just as successful players do.

Apart from business, there are other areas where good athletes have influenced normal persons. For instance, several women have been inspired by successful female athletes to pursue careers related to sports.

Gabby Douglas, who is an Olympic gymnast, has motivated several women in the field of sports. Douglas in the past told the media that she almost gave up her career as a gymnast way back when she was a teenager. However, her sister encouraged her to push on with her career.

Out of her sister’s encouragement, Douglas pushed on and won several medals. She also managed to be the first African American to win women’s all-around gymnastics title. Through this story, we can learn that we should never lose hope while pursuing our goals.

In our everyday endeavors, we might face several challenges that may discourage us from pursuing our goals. Through such times, Douglas’ story should inspire us to persevere in our endeavors no matter the challenges.

Another successful athlete who has inspired several individuals is Lolo Jones. Jones’ came from a very humble background. As a child, her mother struggled to educate her despite being homeless. Similarly, the athlete struggled through several challenges in a sports career.

In the year 2008, Jones managed to be the third runner despite falling during the 100-meter race. Out of her experience, we can learn that more often in life, we encounter challenges and what is important is how we respond to these challenges.

Therefore, we should be able to overcome these challenges. Similarly, through her experiences, we should note that everyone has equal opportunities to be successful in life regardless of our background.

Equally, through her experiences women should realize sports careers are beneficial to all individuals regardless of our sex (Tews & Pfister, 2003).

Special Olympics have also inspired several individuals in their daily activities. Special Olympics bring together people with disabilities to participate in sports. Through these events, these individuals are normally inspired to achieve their best.

By participating in these events, these individuals can prove to themselves, and the other disable individuals that disability is not inability. As such, these events try to foster the perception that being disabled does not imply that one is unable to participate in everyday events in society.

These games are not only beneficial to these individuals but also their fans. Normal individuals are usually inspired when they witness a disabled individual achieving what a normal individual cannot achieve.

One of the special inspiring athletes is Eddie Martin (Wickiser, 2005). As a child, medical experts informed Martin that he would never stand, walk, talk, or participate in other activities that normal people do in society.

Martin told the media that his doctor had suggested that he should be institutionalized. At the moment, Martin has defied all odds to be a special Olympic champion. Similarly, Martin is a successful employee who has contributed enormously to his employer.

Through such inspiring stories, many people continue to be inspired by the success of the special athletes. Likewise, the public would be inspired and encouraged by engaging in special peoples’ sports (Grafius, 2003).

By participating in such events, the public would have fun and give back to the community.

Similarly, through these events, people can connect with other individuals from different backgrounds (Noll & Zimbalist, 1997). By doing so, we would continue to appreciate our differences in religions, races, and cultures.

References

Coakley, J. J. (2007). Sports in society: issues & controversies (9th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.

Grafius, L. C. (2003). Effects of a special olympics gymnastics program on self-concept among mentally retarded adults. Philadelphia, Pasn Press.

Hennessy, B. G., & Chesworth, M. (1996). Olympics!. New York, N.Y., U.S.A.: Viking.

Noll, R. G., & Zimbalist, A. S. (1997). Sports, jobs, and taxes: the economic impact of sports teams and stadiums . Washington D.C.: Brookings Institution Press.

Oxlade, C., & Ballheimer, D. (2000). Olympics. New York: Dorling Kindersley Pub..

Roleff, T. L. (2009). The Olympics. Detroit: Greenhaven Press.

Tews, I., & Pfister, G. (2003). Sport and women: social issues in international perspective. London: Routledge/ISCPES.

Wickiser, C. L. (2005). The effects of differing types of Special Olympic participation on the social competency of mentally retarded participants.Washington D.C: Brookings Institution Press.

Woods, R. (2007). Social issues in sport. Leeds: Human Kinetics.

Young, K., & Wamsley, K. B. (2005). Global Olympics historical and sociological studies of the modern games . Amsterdam: Elsevier JAI.

Introduction

Human resource planning is one kind of management functions applied to the human resources. It can also be viewed as a process in which individuals talents, interests and skills are matched with the opportunities available as well as the intended goals. The planning process involves the decisions on what and how things should be done as well as who will do each function (Jackson and Schuler 1990: 240). Human resource planning plays a pivotal role in every organisation. The success of any group activity will significantly be determined by the effectiveness of the human resource planning process. Good planning promotes learning and skill development among individuals.

Discussion

In an effort to host an inspirational 2011 Olympic Games, LOCOG (London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games) is commitment in necessary preparations in order to achieve its objectives. This chance comes with great opportunities to the country both socially and economically. The main objective of this committee is to stage an inspirational Olympic and Paralympics Games for everyone (The Times 100, not dated: par 5). The committee is devoted to providing the necessary requirement for the games to ensure total satisfaction. The LOCOG is also determined in ensuring that the Olympic Gamers maximizes all possible benefits to the United Kingdom (The Times 100, not dated: par 9).

The role of Atkinson’s model of the flexible firm’ as a tool for Human resource Planning

The Atkinson’s model of the flexible firm as a tool for Human resource has a pivotal role in preparation for the London 2012 Olympic Games. The planners will need the concepts proposed in this model in an effort to achieve its goals. The flexible firm model is a new management strategy which focuses on the means through which the implementation of the new technologies, greater use of flexible periphery and less rigid work practices which will propose profitability and competitiveness (Broadbent, 2003: 30).

The application of these aspects in the process of planning for the 2012 Olympic Games will play a major role in facilitating the organizing process. In particular, this model will be useful to the management committee in the human resource planning. According to the Atkinson flexible firm model, an organisation can significantly improve on its effectiveness by considering restructuring of its workforce and reducing any rigidity in job structure and design in its operations (Wisegeek, 2011: par 5).

LOCOG’s main objective is to provide satisfactory venues and any other requirements like infrastructure that will maximize the satisfaction of athletes, the public in the 2012 Olympic Games. The achievement of these requirements will be determined by how this committee will manage the employees involved in the implementation of these strategies. It will be advisable for the LOCOG’s to promote flexibility so the concerned party could be free to make the necessary changes. According to this model, employees will need to undergo retraining. Such a process will help in improvement of employee’s skills. Consequently, this will improve on the results in an organisation. In this case, the product will be an aspired hostage of the 2012 Olympic Games. This will also involve maximization of the benefits from hosting Olympic Games.

LOCOG values effective communication as well as consultations between the partners as well as the parties involved with its operations (The Times 100, not dated, par 10). This aspect will significantly help the organisation in attraction and retention of the sponsors. When the organisation promotes communication and consultation in its operations, every individual will be able to see clearly that its operations are driven by its actions. This will play a significant role in attraction of sponsors.

Recruitment and Selection Methods

In order for the 2012 Olympic Games to be successful, it is advisable for the management committee to apply the necessary recruitment and selection methods in an effort to attract the most attractive volunteers and employees. Recruitment is a crucial process on which the performance of an organisation is based (Brewster et al. 1994: 68). This is because the recruitment process generates costs and conditions in the current and future development in an organisation. In this case, the effectiveness of the recruitment process employed by the Olympic Games management committee will play an important role in promoting the achievement of its goals. There are several methods which can be applied in the recruitment process.

One way through which an organisation can attract the best candidates is through advertisement (Myers, 2004: 58). It is advisable for an organisation to use advertisement method which reaches the highest number of people. This will ensure that the message is received by the people within desired characteristics. Similarly, the committee involved in preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games can use such media like newspaper to notify the public about a particular position. This will significantly help in absorbing the highly qualified candidates.

One of the recruitment methods which can be applied in preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games is interview. This is where the recruitment panel interrogates the candidates in order to find whether they are qualified for a particular position (Piotrowski and Armstrong, not dated: 52). The organisation can also use the reference method in the recruitment process. In this case, the former employer may give information about the candidates.

Internal recruitment method may also be applied for the 2012 Olympic Games. In this case, the qualified individuals will be selected from within the organisation (Williams, 2011, par 3). One main advantage of this method is based on the fact the selected candidate will be conversant with an organization’s operations. So there is no wastage of time in adjustments.

However, it is important to take into consideration other factors while choosing the recruitment method. For instance, the cost of the recruitment process varies (Dale 2004: 67). For instance, there are substantial costs associated with the attraction of the best candidates. These include advertisement, mailing and other excises aimed at attraction of the best qualified employees in a position.

Legal Considerations in Employing New Recruits

In every organisation, there is some important employment legislation that would need to be addressed while absorbing its employees. Employment legislation is another important field in the human resource management. It is important for an organisation to consider the necessary legislation concerns in order to avoid unnecessary charges.

The employment acts provides various contractual rights for employees. According to the Employment Acts of 1999 and 2003, there are several contractual rights for employees (The Times 100: par 2). For instance, employees are entitled for National Minimum wage. This act also requires an itemized pay statement. Organizations are also not supposed to practice discrimination in the recruitment process. The management committee in preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games must also consider these specifications. Violation of these specifications may lead to employee suing the organisation which can lead to fines.

Business Opportunities

The planning and delivery of the London Olympics 2012 has provided a number of business opportunities. The process has opened and developed new market for business opportunities at both the planning as well as the delivery levels of the 2012 Olympic Games. A number of companies have received contracts from the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA). Many more enterprises in the country are also benefiting through the supply chains associated with the products involved. The UK government has put all the necessary efforts to ensure that the nation derives maximum benefits from hosting the Olympic Games. This has significantly contributed to the development of the business industry.

One of the main areas which the Olympic Games create a major business opportunity is the hotel industry. There is expectation of a high demand for the accommodation and catering services. There will therefore be increase in sales during this period. This will significantly boost the hotel industry.

The London 2012 Olympic games will also benefit the building sector and other sectors which will receive tenders in provision of other services (Warwickshire 2010: par 1). However, the building sector has benefited most from the games. This will significantly help the UK Companies.

Conclusion and Recommendation

In conclusion, this discussion has clearly shown that a critical human resource planning process will be necessary for the committee involved in the planning of the 2012 Olympic Games. Application of the Atkinson’s model will be of great significance in this case. The flexibility in its operations will promote the performance of the workforce involved in the realization of the goals related with employment of the new recruits. This will help the organisation to avoid unnecessary charges. The hosting of the 2012 Olympic Games comes along with a number of opportunities to the United Kingdom. It is therefore necessary to adopt the necessary measures to ensure that the event is successful. As already noted, it will be advisable for the LOCOG, the committee which is involved in preparation for these games to ensure that all the necessary actions are taken in facilitating the process. It is advisable for this committee to be clear on its operations in order to attract sponsors.

Reference List

Brewster, C. et al. 1994. Policy and Practice in European Human Resource Management: The Price Waterhouse Cranfield Survey. London: Routledge.

Broadbent, K. 2003. Women’s Employment in Japan: The Experience of Part-Time Workers. London: Routledge.

Dale, M. 2004. Manager’s Guide to Recruitment and Selection. London: Kogan Page Publishers.

Jackson, S. and Schuler, R. 1990. Human Resource Planning. American Psychological Association, Inc., 0003. Vol. 45, No. 2, 223-239.

Myers, D. 2004 U. S. Master Human Resource Guide. Chicago: CCH Incorporated.

Piotrowski, C. and Armstrong, T. not dated. Current Recruitment and selection practices. North America Journal of Psychology, Vol. 8, No. 3, pp 489-495.

The Times 100, 2011. Employment Legislation, Web.

The Times 100, not dated. London 2012-Achieving the Vision.

Warwickshire (2010) Business & Economy: London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympics Games, Web.

Williams, S. 2011. Recruitment & Selection Methodsю Web.

Wisegeek, 2011. What is human resource planning? Web.

Introduction

Basically, 2012 will be the busiest year for Britain more so to the British tourism industry. The whole world will be eying Britain not only for the 2012 Olympic Games but also other events including Paralympics, Commonwealth games and Diamond Jubilee. Thousands of tourists will be coming to Britain for these events therefore this is the best opportunity for this country to showcase what she has to offer (Morgan & Pritchard, 2000, p.47). For this reason the British government has come up with serious strategies that will enable the tourism industry flourish towards, during and even after the events. However 2012 events are not the only reason why the government has intensified its role in enhancing the industry. The government aims to harness the greatest potential tourism industry holds in the growth of the country’s economy.

Tourism has always been underestimated yet the industry plays a critical role in the growth of the country’s economy. In fact, the tourism industry is among the top ranked industries in Britain and accounts for a third of the total export the country earns (Cooper et al., 2008, p.227).

In addition, the industry account for almost a trillion pounds spent per year and contains over 200,000 thousand small businesses, firms and large corporations providing approximately 4% of the country jobs. Equally important, the tourism industry plays essential role in wealth creation and employment not just in the areas that are served with beautiful sceneries and run- down communities but similarly the country as a whole (Cooper et al., 2008, p.227). Tourism industry that is thriving creates beautiful sceneries to visit all over the country which by extension improves the living standard to the residence of these areas.

Strategies for Marketing Britain as the best tourist destination

The government is pursuing strategies that go beyond policies particularly from the tourism perspective. These strategies range from reducing the bureaucracies in businesses to visa applications in addition to queuing times at the airport. Moreover, the strategies will be concentrating on tourism planning and infrastructure development. Basically, these strategies have covered the entire areas that impacts greatly not only to the tourists visiting the country but also the small businesses and large organizations central to the industry (Williams et al., 2003, p.134).

Very important to the success of the tourism industry are the industry players. The strategies sets out how the tourism bodies will be modernized, ensuring that they are reflective of natural geography of the tourist area and enabling the businesses as well as organization to collaborate in marketing the country’s tourism in their most effective way (Williams et al., 2003, p.134). Imperatively, the strategy ensures government partnership with the private sector to enhance the marketing processes and to promote Britain tourism abroad. Vital in this whole process is VisitBritain.

Role of marketing agencies

VisitBritain is one of the national tourism agencies that are charged with the responsibility of marketing Britain globally besides increasing her economic visitors. In fact, VisitBritain is a private body financed by the Britain DSMC (Department of Sports, Media and Culture) together with other agencies and partners commonly found both in the United Kingdom and overseas. The marketing agency has to ensure that Britain is sold out in an inspirational as well as relevant way around the globe as a tourist destination (McCabe, 2009, p.54). Other marketing agencies that have partnered with VisitBritain include airlines and operators, UKTI, official tourist marketing bodies from all over the UK along with global brands such as Samsung.

Visit Britain together with the partnering firms has a big role to play in presenting Britain as the best tourist destination. Whereas there is no doubt on the significance of the Britain tourist economy, greater opportunities still exists to develop the sector, increase its productivity, making it become more competitive and similarly profitable. Britain tourism industry provides enhanced potentiality as Britain is the only country in Europe that significantly takes the few current staycation holidays (Hudson, 2008, p.21). The coming years present an exceptional prospects that the industry must grasp. Though the royal wedding has past, the country will still stage a swerve of major international events including 2012 Olympic Games, Paralympics Games and Queen Diamond Jubilee.

VisitBritain as an agency to market Britain as the best tourist destination has three main objectives. To take full advantage of the economic benefits aimed for tourism across UK, improve the image of Britain as the best visitor destination and to deliver the world-class welcome to the 2012 visitors and beyond. To achieve the objectives and capitalize on the 2012 potential, the agency must work closely with the government and other private partners in promoting tourism and Britain as the destination. Indeed, the industry nature entails greater levels of corporation among rival firms in delivering the shared marketing campaigns that will promote Britain as the best tourist destination (Kotler et al., 2003, p.30).

The government in its part aims to provide funding for the ever ambitious marketing campaign that will attract tourists to Britain in 2012 and beyond. In addition, the government intends to increase the percentage of domestic tourists to match the number of UK residents who holiday abroad. Finally, the government aspires to improve the industry productivity to be among the top most competitive and efficient tourist economies globally. For the government and the marketing agencies to achieve these broad objectives, there must be sound tourism policy, tourism planning and wider infrastructural development in the country to make Britain be attractive to all visitors (Laws, 2002, p.340).

Besides, the government in collaboration with other agencies plans to renovate the market fiascos through modification and streamlining of existing and long-established tourism controllers to be more focused. Furthermore, the government plans to harness the industry-led partnerships between the public and the industry players. The marketing firms in the industry will get their funding over long-term partnership marketing promotion.

Branding and destination marketing

The role of marketing agencies is to give Britain a brand that will broaden the tourism offer and portray London as the Biggest UK’s most successful tourism destination. The aim is to seize the extra tourist’s capacity and potential in other parts of the world as well as in Britain. Branding Britain in both the design and symbol is intended to identify the country as the best tourism destination and in particular differentiate it from other destinations. Branding gives tourism destination such as Britain more value and differentiated features that create loyalty as well as repeat purchase (Morgan & Pritchard, 2000, p.47). Additionally, it adds value to the country destination and to the tourists that visit the country.

In essence, there are three main words that VisitBritain use to define Britain as the best destination for tourists. They include timeless, dynamic and timeless. These words summarize the people, culture and Britain as the place for tourists. British people are used at the heart of marketing. These words when combined together give the natural experience and the real sense that tourists would like. What really give Britain its unique sense is its rich history with enormous stories to tell as well as its real warmth of informality combined with spark and dynamism.

The Olympic and Paralympic games that are to be held in London materialize as a good opportunity to sell the UK to the unprecedented tourists. This will be achieved by making them believe that London is the place to visit soon. It is also the platform to show millions of people around the globe watching the game that Britain is the best destination for summer holidays. Moreover, the 2012 Olympic Games should not just attract fans and competitors during the games but also take that advantage to display other tourist attraction places, rich cultural heritage and beautiful country side (Laws, 2002, p.213).

Furthermore, Paralympics provides an opportunity especially to promote both foreign and domestic disabled visitors. All forms of media should be deemed the viable conduits through which the populace and the inbound tourists are enlightened about the 2012 Games and beyond (Morgan & Pritchard, 2000, p.47)

The main goal is to take the advantage of the London 2012 as a once in a while generation opportunity to boost the United Kingdom tourism industry. By attracting approximately four million additional tourists into the country, it stands a chance of creating almost over fifty thousand within the succeeding four years. The Paralympic and Olympic games represents a significant tourist market estimated to generate revenues of about two billion pounds in England alone. It is also important to reinvent target marketing especially to the destinations that have high potential for the inbound (Lumsden, 1997, p.314).

Creating a Sustained Tourism Legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics games

Nevertheless, creating sustained growth in tourism through sports events such as the Olympics, world cup and commonwealth games have proved to be tricky. There are numerous huddles to be overcome as observed in other countries who have initially hosted these events. The principle disadvantage is that most of the potential domestic and foreign tourists who are not passionate to sportive activities might not be attracted to the Olympic Games or any other sporting activity period (Preuss, 2004, p.247).

This is expected in spite of the games lasting for just a few weeks or a month in a particular city. The other disadvantage is that many visitors will expect overcrowding of the country hosting such games. In addition, many tourists will expect high prices for most of the facilities. This will nonetheless keep many visitors away thus impacting negatively on the sustained growth after the games. It will similarly affect the economy of the host country negatively.

To overcome these huddles, the host country must launch a creative and strong marketing campaign that will be targeting to overcome all the pitfalls. The marketing strategy will also be responsible for capturing of various potential tourism opportunities which the London 2012 games come with (Blake, 2005).

However, the marketing should not just concentrate in the 2012 Olympic Games. When present marketing challenges are successfully dealt with, the number of major subsequent international sporting and cultural events present a sustained improvement in the tourist economy. Britain is expected to host numerous major sports events in the next ten years. This implies there is an opportunity to continuously create sustained improvement within the tourism industry (Swann, 2001).

For instance, after the 2012 Olympic Games, Britain expects to host a number of major games including; 2012 Paralympics, cultural Olympiad, the 2012 Queens Diamond Jubilee, 2012 World Pride, 2013 Rugby League World Cup, 2014 Glasgow Common Wealth Games, the Scotland Ryder Cup in 2014, the 2015 Rugby Union World Cup and 2019 Cricket World Cup.

Generally, the marketing strategy employed should guarantee tourism industry a sustainable step change. In other words, the tourism industry should not just receive a one-off boost from the London 2012 Olympic Games but be able to achieve a constant step by step change. This will make the industry to continue operating afresh and consistently move towards higher levels of performance beyond the fiscal 2012 (Buhalis, 2003, p.117).

Conclusion

Tourism has materialized to be very vital for the growth and development of the economy. Apart from the direct and indirect employment opportunities that come with tourism, the industry is responsible for a third of foreign exchange earnings, reduces the overreliance on other sectors such as finance and regeneration of iconic sites. Most importantly it is a prospect to showcase Britain’s great legacy as well as national heritage that in a way not only delight the tourist but also improves the citizens’ quality of life.

The British government has put in place many approaches to ensure that the country is properly marketed especially towards the up-coming major Olympic event. Mostly the government has contracted major tourism marketing firms to market the country to the overseas visitors coming to UK in addition to the British nationals abroad who would wish to come back home for the Olympics. The marketing strategy employed by the VisitBritain involves the use of media both old and new, Websites, magazines and newsletters. VisitBritain has also used other marketing strategies such as partnering with other industry players to enhance its effectiveness towards the achievement of its goals.

The other important aspect is the sustainability of the Olympic legacy after the 2012 games. It is imperative that the flow of tourists be sustained not just for the 2012 games but also for other events that will be subsequently held in UK. Therefore marketing strategies should not just be focused in the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games, but must rather capture the gradual change towards and after the Olympic. In other words, the industry should be kept continuous in its growth even after the 2012 Olympic and Paralympics games.

References

Blake. 2005. The Economic impact of the London 2012 Olympics, Nottingham University Business School. Web.

Buhalis, D. 2003. E-Tourism: Information Technology for strategic tourism management. Harlow, Essex: FT Prentice Hall. Web.

Cooper, C., Fletcher, J., Fyall, A., Gilbert, D. & Wanhill, S. 2008. Tourism: Principles and Practice. Harlow, UK: Pearson Education. Web.

Hudson, S. 2008. Tourism and Hospitality Marketing: a global perspective. London, UK: Sage publishers. Web.

Kotler, P., Bowen, J. & Makens, J. 2003. Marketing for Hospitality and Tourism. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Web.

Laws, E. 2002. Tourism marketing: quality and service management perspectives. London, UK: Educational publishers. Web.

Lumsden, L. 1997. Tourism marketing. London, UK: Thomson International publishers. Web.

McCabe, S. 2009. Marketing communications for Tourism and hospitality: concepts, strategies and 4 cases. Oxford, UK: Butterworth-Heinemann. Web.

Morgan, N. & Pritchard, A. 2000. Advertising in tourism and leisure. Oxford, UK: Butterworth-Heinemann. Web.

Preuss, H. 2004. The Economics of Staging the Olympics – A Comparison of the Games 1972-2008. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar. Web.

Swann. 2001. When do Major Sports Events leave a Lasting Economic Legacy? Web.

Williams, J., Christine, N. & Buswell, J. 2003. Service Quality in Leisure and Tourism. Wallingford, UK: CABI. Web.

Introduction

Nowadays, it is becoming increasingly clear for more and more people that the procedural format of Olympic Games, as we know it, has grown outdated. The indirect proof of this statement’s legitimacy can well serve the fact that, as of this day, the attendance rate at the currently ongoing Olympic Games in London has hit its all times low. In its turn, this caused Games’ organizers to resort to rather unconventional methods of increasing the number of spectators, “Faced with this awkward situation (the low rate of attendance), the London Olympic Committee invited security guards to fill the empty seats. This, however, was criticized by the media” (Zhang par. 7). In this paper, I will aim to explore the validity of the earlier suggestion at length, while outlining the main reasons why I think Olympic Games should be banned.

Argumentative part

It now became a commonplace practice among many people to think that one of the main purposes of Olympic Games is to help the participating athletes and the spectators to embrace the spirit of apoliticalness – hence, advancing the cause of peace and tolerance in the world. Another assumed positive aspect of Olympic Games is that they are believed to promote physical culture. The earlier mentioned suggestions, however, are far from being considered as such that represent an undisputed truth-value. After all, the staging of the first modern Olympic Games in Athens (1859) was meant to serve the clearly political cause of celebrating Greek victory over Turks in what it is now being known as the Greek War of Independence.

Ever since the early 20^th century, the factor of politics has been playing an ever-increased role, within the context of how Olympic Games used to be staged and within the context of what accounted for the process of defining the Games’ locale and content. This, however, did not make Olympic Games less popular. Quite on the contrary – as history indicates, the more there was politics to the staging of every particular Game, the more it was capable of attracting Media’s attention, and consequently spectators. The extent of Olympic Games’ politicization has reached its peak during the course of the Cold War, when these Games were commonly perceived as the sporting manifestation of an ongoing confrontation between the U.S. and its allies, on the one hand, and the USSR and its allies, on the other. This was exactly the reason why it is was namely throughout the course of the Cold War, when Olympic Games used to enjoy a huge popularity with people, throughout the world.

Nevertheless, ever since the world has ceased being bipolar, in the geopolitical sense of this word, the element of politics has been affecting the Olympic Games’ staging less and less. The ongoing process of Globalization contributes to this tendency, as well. After all, the process of world becoming ‘flat’ has resulted in the creation of a situation that, as of today, the very concept of a national sovereignty is being deemed inconsistent with the realities of a post-industrial living (Ohmae 5). What it means is that Olympic Games can no longer serve the purpose of providing a stage for the political competition between countries to be transformed into the sporting competition – with the exception of North Korea, there are simply no more de facto independent countries being left in the Globalized world.

As of today, the staging of Olympic Games is being essentially concerned with providing both: the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the host-countries with the opportunity to generate huge commercial profits. As Sreberny noted it, “Global sport is obviously big business, as is media coverage, and both function to extend the global reach of capital. Eleven key sponsors to the IOC enjoy agreements lasting over four years to include one summer and one winter event… The broadcasting rights revenue to the IOC from the games exceed $1.5 billion” (12).

In its turn, this explains why the International Olympic Committee is now being commonly referred to as the one of world’s most corrupted international organizations. This simply could not be otherwise – the members of this Committee are being in a position to unilaterally decide in favor of a particular country, where the next Olympic Games would be staged, without having to thoroughly substantiate their decision, in this respect. This naturally makes them prone to bribery, “The things IOC members would trade for their votes? Cash. Sex. College places for the kids. Hip replacement operations. Cosmetic surgery…” (Jennings 392).

However, it would be wrong to think that the element of corruption solely affects the decision-making process, on the part of International Olympic Committee. As practice indicates – the very process of athletes competing with each other cannot be discussed outside of the specifics of these athletes’ doping-techniques. Even though that the Olympic Games’ participants are being required to undergo a doping-control procedure, before being allowed to compete, it does not represent much of a secret that the overwhelming majority of these participants do take illegal stimulants, in order to increase their chances of winning (Maennig 70). One of the reasons why it is being the case is that the Olympic athletes are professional sportsmen, which means that their financial well-being directly relates to their ability to score wins. However, for those who strive to score sporting wins, as their life’s foremost priority, the related ethical considerations have absolutely no importance, whatsoever.

What makes things even uglier, in this respect, is the fact that doping-related practices do only result in inducing a number of long-term negative effects on the adult Olympic athletes’ health, but on the adolescent athletes’ health, as well. After all, it does not make much of a secret that many female Olympics athletes (particularly gymnasts) that represent China and Russia are only 13-15 years old. Yet, just as it is being the case with adult professional athletes, these children are also being forced by their coaches to take illegal stimulants – it is solely their ability to win Olympic medals that matters and nothing else.

Thus, it is not only that the Olympic Games’ very format has become outdated, but also as time goes on, these Games are becoming increasingly less capable of emanating the true spirit of sport. Instead, these Games are now being progressively associated with the notions of corporate greed, corruption and immorality. Therefore, it would only be logically to demand the Olympic Games’ banning, as such that had effectively ceased serving the purpose of providing spectators with a high quality sport-related entertainment, on the one hand, and with popularizing physical culture, on the other.

Conclusion

I believe that the earlier provided line of argumentation, in defense of the suggestion that humanity would indeed benefit from having Olympic Games banned, is being thoroughly consistent with the paper’s initial thesis. As it was pointed out earlier – the very realities of a post-industrial living in the Globalized world predetermine such an eventual development.

Bibliography

Jennings, Andrew. “Investigating Corruption in Corporate Sport: The IOC and FIFA.” International Review for the Sociology of Sport 46.4 (2011): 387-398. Print.

Maennig, Wolfgang. “On the Economics of Doping and Corruption in International Sports.” Journal of Sports Economics 3.1 (2002): 61-89. Print.

Ohmae, Kenichi. Next Global Stage: Challenges and Opportunities in Our Borderless World. Upper Saddle River: Wharton School Publishing, 2005. Print.

Sreberny, Annabelle. “Contradictions of the Globalizing Moment.” Global Media and Communication 1.1 (2005): 11-15. Print.

Zhang, Hao. “Low Audience Attendance hits London Games.” CNTN. 2012. Web.

Introduction

The Olympic Games are one of the most popular sports events, which attracts millions of people around the world. For example, the Winter Olympic Games in 2018 received a viewership of 1.92 million people through different media channels (Billings et al. 536). The aim of this paper is to analyze what Olympic fans have in common. It is not only interesting from a sociological point of view but also has a practical implementation. Knowing the interests that Olympic fans share is of great value for marketers. They can use this knowledge to target their Olympic campaigns at the audience more effectively. The analysis shows that the viewers of the Olympic Games have common preferences in terms of social media use, food consumption, credit cards, and automobiles.

Demographic Characteristics of Olympic Fans

Not all people are equally interested in the Olympic Games. Data show that men are more inclined to become Olympic fans than women (GfK Mediamark Research & Intelligence [GfK MRI]). According to the survey conducted by the Center for the Digital Future, “35% of men and 32% of women” express a high level of interest in the Olympic Games (par. 2). As for the age, the sports event attracts older adults more than younger ones. Compared to the general population, people aged 18-24 are 19% less likely to be fans of the Olympic Games (GfK MRI). The event is not very popular among those aged 25-34 as well; people in this category are 6% less likely to enjoy the Olympics (GfK MRI).

Thus, most of the Olympic fandom consists of individuals over 35 years old (GfK MRI). The Center for the Digital Future has found out that 41% of people aged 55-64 and 43% of those aged 65-74 like to watch the Olympics. Evidence shows that young people are underrepresented in the audience of the Olympic Games, which may be of concern for the organizers and marketers.

Other demographic characteristics of the Olympic fans include ethnicity, income levels, and education. Among people with high interest in the Olympic Games, 73.3% are white, 13.6% are African Americans, almost 16% are Hispanics, and 4.2% are Asian (GfK MRI). The survey of the Center for the Digital Future showed a different percentage, but the proportion of the mentioned ethnicities among fans was similar.

Further, individuals with high incomes are more likely to watch and follow the Olympics (Center for the Digital Future). People with higher levels of education also tend to be more interested in the event than their less-educated counterparts (Center for the Digital Future). Perhaps, the ethnicity of Olympic athletes and viewers’ possibility of watching the competition influence people’s interest in the event.

Social Media Use

Identifying social media preferences of Olympic fans is of great value for marketers because social networks have become an important platform for marketing campaigns. Data show that the most popular social media among Olympic fans is Twitter; it is 9% more widespread among fans than among the general population (GfK MRI). The second popular network is Instagram, while the popularity of Facebook among individuals interested in the Olympic Games is the same as that among the general population (GfK MRI).

Li et al. argue that Twitter is so attractive for sports fans “because of its unique ‘following’ nature,” meaning that individuals decide for themselves whom they want to follow and what news they want to get (3). However, although Twitter is the most appealing tool for social interaction among Olympic fans, only 14.5% of them use it (GfK MRI). At the same time, 25.6% of Olympic fans use Instagram, and 62.4% of them use Facebook (GfK MRI). These findings indicate that, although Facebook is the most popular social media in the U.S., many sports fans find Twitter more comfortable for their needs.

Food and Drinks Consumption

The Olympic Games, being a large social event, are related to increased food and drink consumption. Data indicate that Olympic fans eat more candies, such as Kit Kat, M&M’s Peanut, Snickers, and Twix than the general population (GfK MRI). At the same time, such candies as Milky Way and 3 Musketeers are less popular with Olympic fans (GfK MRI). As for beverages, people interested in the Olympics are more likely to prefer Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, Diet Coke, and Diet Pepsi that the general population (GfK MRI). Such soft drinks as Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper, Cherry Coke, Coca-Cola Classic, and Pepsi-Cola are less popular among sports fans (GfK MRI). The data suggest that Olympic followers are more likely to choose low-calorie beverages than those less interested in the Olympic Games.

Generally, this sports event is expected to promote healthy foods. In particular, the organizers of the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016 intended to encourage viewers to consume healthy foodstuffs and drinks (Piggin et al. 3). It means that they were to provide customers with natural or minimally processed products (Piggin et al. 5). At the same time, according to the agreements with sponsors, the organizers had to arrange for consumers to buy as many products marketed by sponsors as possible (Piggin et al. 11).

It is worth mentioning that some of the Olympics’ major sponsors were McDonald’s and Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola has been financing the Olympic Games since 1928 and invested $7.6 billion in the Brazilian market in 2012-2016 (Bragg et al. 6). Although McDonald’s has recently quit its sponsorship due to public criticism, it still financed the Olympics in 2016 (Bragg et al. 6). Therefore, the organizers failed to provide viewers with enough healthy food and offered them ultra-processed products instead (Piggin et al. 11). Thus, Olympic fans’ choice of food and drinks is largely determined by sponsors and marketers.

Currently Owned or Leased Automobiles

There is also available information about cars owned or leased by Olympic fans. Since these people are 1% more likely to influence other individuals’ decisions related to automobiles, these data can be useful (GfK MRI). The most popular car both among the general population and among Olympic fans is Toyota (GfK MRI). Data show that 8.2% of sports fans prefer this automobile, and it is 21% more popular among them than among the general population (GfK MRI). Moreover, Toyota has been a sponsor of the Olympics, which may have influenced the choice of fans. Furthermore, 7.1% of people, who are highly interested in the Olympics, own or lease Honda, and 7% of fans drive Ford (GfK MRI).

Chevrolet and Nissan are slightly less popular, with 5.5% and 3% of fans having them, respectively (GfK MRI). Overall, such cars as Volkswagen, Toyota, Nissan, Mercedes, Honda, Jeep, Ford, and Chevrolet are more widespread among Olympic fans than among the general population (GfK MRI). At the same time, Dodge and Hyundai are in less favor (GfK MRI). Perhaps, Olympic fans appreciate reliability since they choose cars that last long.

The Use of Credit Cards

Credit cards have become a common way of paying for goods and services. It may be expected that Olympic fans use credit cards more readily than those who are less interested in the Olympics. The most devoted fans travel to host countries in order to see the live performance, and it seems to be more convenient to pay for anything with a card abroad. Among Olympic fans, Visa is the most popular credit card (GfK MRI).

It is used by 43.4% of fans, and it is 7% more common among them than among the general population (GfK MRI). It can be associated with the fact that Visa has been one of the sponsors of the Olympics since 1986 (International Olympic Committee 38). Visa is “the exclusive payment services provider and the only card accepted at the Olympic Games through 2020” (International Olympic Committee 38). Therefore, fans attending the Olympic Games are urged to use this payment system.

However, Visa is not the only credit card that Olympic followers use. The second popular system of payment is MasterCard, with 24.7% of fans using it for transactions (GfK MRI). About 12% of people who are highly interested in the Olympics utilize American Express (GfK MRI). Only 8% of them choose to pay with Discover credit cards (GfK MRI). The use of all the mentioned credit cards by Olympic fans is indexed positively compared to the general population. Visa is 7% more popular among fans than among the general population (GfK MRI). Likewise, this difference is 9% for MasterCard, 19% for American Express, and 8% for Discover (GfK MRI). Hence, Olympic followers are more active users of credit cards, with Visa being their major payment system.

Family Restaurants Visited

The final characteristic of Olympic fans to be reviewed is family restaurants that they visit. It has been found that these people 12% more likely to be influencers when it comes to the choice of restaurants (GfK MRI). Eateries that are more popular among Olympic fans than among the general public include California Pizza Kitchen, Dave and Buster’s, Outback Steakhouse, and TGI Friday’s (GfK MRI).

These restaurants are known to offer a lot of fast food, such as pizzas and hamburgers. Such family restaurants as Cracker Barrel and Golden Corral are less popular among people interested in the Olympic Games (GfK MRI). Among Olympic fans, 23.5% prefer to go to Applebee’s, 18.7% eat at Olive Garden, and 12% visit Buffalo Wild Wings (GfK MRI). Based on these data, it may be assumed that restaurants offering fast food are more appealing for Olympic fans than for the general population.

Conclusion

To sum up, this paper reviewed the demographic characteristics of Olympic fans, as well as their interests and preferences, including social media, food and drinks, automobiles, credit cards, and family restaurants. The data revealed that people interested in the Olympics are mainly white men aged over 35, with high incomes and levels of education. Olympic fans mostly use Facebook but find Twitter more convenient for their purposes. They prefer drinking low-calorie soft drinks, but they eat unhealthy foods, which may be attributed to the efforts of marketers toward the promotion of such food. They prefer to drive Toyota’s cars and use Visa credit cards. Finally, Olympic fans choose restaurants that offer pizzas and hamburgers.

Works Cited

Billings, Andrew, et al. “When 18 Days of Television Coverage Is Not Enough: A Six-Nation Composite of Motivations for Mobile Device Use in 2018 Winter Olympic Games.” Mass Communication and Society, vol. 22, no. 4, 2019, pp. 535-557.

Bragg, Marie A., et al. “Marketing Food and Beverages to Youth through Sports.” Journal of Adolescent Health, vol. 62, no. 1, 2018, pp. 5-13.

Center for the Digital Future. “Who Watches the Olympics?” Center for the Digital Future. 2018. Web.

GfK Mediamark Research & Intelligence. “Olympics Fan Data. Base: All.” MRI Mediamark University Reporter, 2017.

International Olympic Committee. IOC Marketing: Media Guide. 2018. Web.

Li, Bo, et al. “Twitter and Olympics: Exploring Factors Which Impact Fans Following American Olympic Governing Bodies.” International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship, vol. 19, no. 4, 2018, pp. 1-14.

Piggin, Joe, et al. “Do the Olympic Games Promote Dietary Health for Spectators? An Interdisciplinary Study of Health Promotion through Sport.” European Sport Management Quarterly, vol. 19, no. 4, 2019, pp. 1-21.

Introduction

The decision of the Olympic Games Committee, when choosing the next host for the event, depends on several factors, including the country’s pledge to environmental protection and urban development. The city of Rio de Janeiro, the host of the 2016 Olympic Games, went through this process, but the results of the event are a topic for debate to this day. This review analyses governmental and Olympic reports as well as the opinions of citizens and environmental activists. Such themes as partial environmental conservation, social unrest, unmet sustainability objectives and infrastructure improvement are identified. The findings are summarised to see whether the event was beneficial or detrimental to the area’s regeneration.

Source 1

In their research article, Boroghi, Ribeiro and Lourenço (2018) conduct a qualitative analysis of Rio de Janeiro’s reports on sustainability to see how the environment and the infrastructure of the city changed during and after the event. The authors’ area of expertise makes them credible as these scholars investigate the problem from the point of view of sustainable engineering. Boroghi, Ribeiro and Lourenço (2018) note that there exists a gap between the reports that the Brazilian government created as a prospect for the Olympics and the results of the changes.

They argue that thematic analysis is necessary to reveal whether the promises made in the project have been fulfilled. Apart from their own experience, the authors apply a variety of credible sources, using the International Urban Sustainability Indicators List (IUSIL) as a basis for the investigation.

To conduct the examination, the authors do not make any predictions but pose that the Olympics can have both positive and negative impacts on the hosting city. Their comparison of the results reveals that the developmental objectives set before the Olympic Games were not met by the government. While the transport infrastructure was improved and the area of greenspaces in the city increased, such goals as an offset in carbon emissions, reduction in urban poverty, and sustainable use of resources were not met. As it is a qualitative study, the reliability and validity of the results cannot be discussed apart from mentioning that the researchers used and compared official reports. Overall, this research offers a close and nuanced look at the outcomes of the 2016 Olympic Games.

Source 2

Hofman-Mourão and Rocha (2016) discuss the potential impacts of the 2016 Olympic Games on Rio de Janeiro and its citizens, analysing multiple topics, including urban regeneration, by using historical records of the previous games and Brazil’s reports about the event. The research is a part of a larger investigation into the current state of sports in Latin America, and all articles selected for the book are presented by credible authors. Hofman-Mourão and Rocha (2016) identify several gaps in literature due to the proximity of the event to the tine of the analysis, considering the expectations of scholars about the activities of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The central presupposition made by the authors relies on previous events. Thus, Hofman-Mourão and Rocha (2016) assume that many cities that host the Olympic Games turn into urban entertainment destinations due to the scale of restoration. However, the economic and environmental growth is limited to some regions of the city, while others may suffer from worse conditions instead.

As the authors’ central source of information is the previous research on Olympic Games, the findings of the study are heavily reliant on the belief that most cities go through a similar process when preparing for the event. Therefore, the reliability of the productions is not high, because each of the hosting cities has its unique struggles. Nevertheless, Hofman-Mourão and Rocha (2016) conclude that the existing reports about delays, problems, and changes in financing show that the events’ outcomes will not meet the set standards of urban growth.

Source 3

The news article by Horton (2016) explores the reports by the United States Congressional Research Service, Olympic Committee, and available investigations on the ecological disasters in Brazil. The goal of the author is to show that the discrepancy between some events and the official reports reveals a gap in understanding of urban development and environmental restoration. The author’s interest in climate change issues makes the focus of the discussion understandable.

Horton (2016) utilises a variety of official sources, arguing that the findings of the Committee about the project’s sustainability do not align with Brazil’s other actions, namely the destruction of the rainforests contrasted with the goal of reforestation in Rio de Janeiro. While the author does not make any predictions, he highlights that these contradictions may have a long-term impact on the city and the country as a whole.

The report’s transparent use of the official reports increases the reliability of findings. The author concludes that the area of Rio de Janeiro could be considered improved as the government complied with the rules of the Committee. However, the continuation of rainforest destruction and unclear reforestation goals make this regeneration project questionable. Overall, the outcomes of this investigation demonstrate that on the one hand, some urban growth occurred due to the Olympic Games. On the other hand, environmental concerns were not answered. Therefore, the official reports did not cover the whole picture to adequately conclude whether the event had a positive or a negative impact on the hosting city and its residents.

Source 4

In their study, Neto et al. (2018) examine the changes that happened in Rio de Janeiro’s urban space. The scholars review the official documents and mass media releases to collect sufficient data about urban regeneration. It should be noted that this research is a part of the Olympic Studies Forum, which elevates the quality of collected data and authors’ expertise. Neto et al. (2018) discover a lack of knowledge about the impact of the Olympic Games on the particular regions in the city, thus moving away from general investigations to highly detailed research. The research is based on official reports from the Olympic Games as well as their examinations. According to this literature, the authors presume that the Olympic Games serve as a catalyst for improving urban restoration.

Selecting the qualitative approach, Neto et al. (2018) conduct descriptive research of the official and mass media reports. As the investigation uses qualitative methods, no validity or reliability issues are addressed in the analysis. The results of the authors show that not all areas of Rio de Janeiro changed. However, overall, the catalyst effect happened during this event in a similar way to the previous Olympic Games. Neto et al. (2018) highlight that such change does not always occur in an organised manner, keeping regions farther from the centre without development or support. Thus, it is vital to address the focus of such urban regeneration and make sure that realistic planning covers all areas adequately.

Source 5

The official report about the 2016 Olympic Games lists examples of the environmental legacy, addressing the question of urban regeneration. This document shows the positive actions taken by the Brazilian government and their efforts in making the city’s environment better for its citizens and guests. The credibility of the author is strong – The Olympic Committee approaches the issue of sustainability with great attention.

Notably, the report mentions several qualifications that the program for Rio 2016 passed, including the plan’s approval by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and ISO 20121 certification checked by a third party (Olympic Games Rio 2016 – environmental legacy, 2017). Therefore, the achievements made by Rio 2016 organisers were verified by trustworthy officials, making this report’s information indispensable.

In preparation for the Olympic Games, Rio 2016 organisers introduced low-carbon technologies to the country and other nations in the region. They also achieved higher certification rates of fish and seafood, and all food served during the Games Operations was certified (Olympic Games Rio 2016 – environmental legacy, 2017). More than 50 hectares of native vegetation was restored in the golf course and the Olympic Park (Olympic Games Rio 2016 – environmental legacy, 2017).

The project included river recovery and sanitation infrastructure installation to improve environmental management. New waste treatment centres were opened in the west of Rio. During the Games, more than a thousand tons of waste was recycled. Finally, Rio de Janeiro closed its last landfill before being accepted by the Committee in 2012.

Source 6

The final source is a news publication that analyses the personal opinions of people connected to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. In it, Watts (2016) interviews several individuals, including citizens, volunteers, athletes, organisers, government officials, and environmental activists. Each person has an in-depth knowledge of the particular issue related to the Olympic Games. For the question of the area’s regeneration, the opinions of the citizens and environmental activities seem the most suitable since they raise concerns about the infrastructure of the city and sustainability efforts made by the government in preparation for the event. Nonetheless, as each of these categories is represented by a single person, the reliability of the information that these speakers provide is limited to their personal view of the problem.

The central concerns raised by these persons are the treatment of low-income regions of the city and the cleanness of water. The interviewed favela resident, Barbara Assis, states that poor favela communities did not benefit from the Olympics in any way and that all stadiums and entertainment centres were built in wealthy parts of the city, serving affluent communities with connections and resources.

Next, the resident notes that the event did not reduce the amount of violence in the neighbourhoods, thus leaving some parts of the city without support or protection. Furthermore, Mario Moscatelli, a conservationist, argues that the project to clean up Guanabara Bay was not completed, leaving the water polluted for the competition (Watts, 2016). He highlights the lack of funding for environmental projects which could be pulled from construction and other major costs.

Summary

The amount of coverage about the environmental and urban projects planned and completed for the 2016 Olympic Games allows one to see which issues became the centre of the debate. Notably, the scholarly literature on the subject and mass media publications based their investigations on the same official reports, finding different gaps in knowledge depending on their interests. As an outcome, several conclusions were drawn about the impact of the major event on area restoration. First of all, most sources, regardless of their credibility, find that the transportation infrastructure has improved in the city as a result of the Games. Furthermore, all sources show that some changes were positive for the residents.

One of the bases for further investigations is the official report published on the website of the Olympic Games. It contains the main steps that Rio 2016 organisers took to be approved for participation and the smooth operation during the event. However, it is also a source that reveals several issues with the approach of the government to regeneration. As Boroghi, Ribeiro and Lourenço (2018) note, the scale of these projects does not ensure long-term sustainability in the region. Moreover, the lack of recognition of the poor regions’ struggles during the Olympic Games is brought up by both Rio’s citizens and academics.

The study by Neto et al. (2018) shows a level of inequality in the distribution of resources which is further supported by Assis, an individual who experienced these limitations first-hand (Watts, 2016). Another side of the issue is concerned with deforestation and water pollution. These two problems are addressed in the official report, but environmentalists provide evidence that these actions are mismatched with the reality of significant climate problems.

To conclude, the difference in reports does not signify a lack of transparency, but the different focuses of reporting channels. Reviewing scholarly data, news, official reports and personal views, one may see that Rio 2016 Olympic Games had an impact on area regeneration that was heavily influenced by resources’ distribution and adherence to the established standards. This approach resulted in several regions of the city and country being neglected by urban development programs and environmental projects. Poor neighbourhoods were underrepresented in the organisers’ plans, which resulted in unequal development and unstable change. Such a lack of equity may be unsustainable in the long term, increasing the divide between regions and negatively affecting the quality of life.

References

Boroghi, F., Ribeiro, P. and Lourenço, J.M. (2018) ‘Olympics´ impacts in Rio de Janeiro´ s urban sustainability’, Transylvanian Review, 26(30), pp. 7759-7765.

Hofman-Mourão, M. and Rocha, C.M. (2016) ‘The wonders of the wonderful city: social impacts and legacies of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro’, in Bravo G., D’Amico, R. L. and Parrish, C. (eds.) Sport in Latin America: policy, organization, management. London: Routledge, pp. 196-212.

Horton, A. M. (2016) ‘2016 Olympic Games and the environment’, Independent Australia. Web.

Neto, S., Cardoso, V.D., Santos, T., Oliveira, A.F.S.D., Terezani, D.R. and Haiachi, M.D.C. (2018) ‘Rio 2016 Olympics: urban regeneration and social legacy’, Journal of Human Sport & Exercise, 13, pp. S116-S133.

Olympic Games Rio 2016 – environmental legacy. (2017). Web.

Watts, J. (2016) ‘Have the Olympics been worth it for Rio?’, The Guardian. Web.

Conducting Olympic Games in focus

Carrying out of Olympic Games is a great event for a definite country which hosts them. Managing the process for four years is a real challenge for the responsible figures. It means that first of all the infrastructure for this should be previously linked up in detail. Sport objects in combination with the transportation system and places of allocation are to be in perfect conditions. Then it has to intend publicity take part in the measures about providing not only the conduction of Games but also to maintain the entertainments. It can be observed like art, because of the too complicated structure of preparations and final carriage of the Olympic Games. Describing city improvement mode and the problem of city makeover before conducting the event it is necessary to set in order such points as it is shown in Public Management:

• Street improvements, such as new granite paving, street furniture, street trees, banners, floral displays, and improved lighting and safety.
• Street and precinct upgrades.
• Parks and open space improvements.
• New cultural and recreational facilities (Public Management, 2001)

Speaking about the benefits of such festival it should be outlined, first, that this is the issue of financial renewal. The incomes of the cities hosting the Olympic Games increase to many millions of dollars. This is a process of effective output when the International Olympic Committee attracts the attention of local investors to place their financial aids into the building of appropriate objects during only four years to obtain then manifold surpassing profit within two weeks or so. Second, it is a historical event that places a definite city and its citizens in the framework of glory and fame. Third, it develops people in case of intercultural exchange during the Games. When the Games took place in Sydney many observers pointed out a positive aftereffect:

Because of the experience gained during the events mode, Sydney now has the proven capacity to successfully stage major events of an international standard. The operational procedures developed and effectively implemented by the city operations center during the Olympics mode have given the city the ability to operate on a 24-hour basis, if and when required (Public Management, 2001).

London advantages in the carriage of the Games

Great Britain is known to be one of the greatest empires in the history of mankind. It was obvious at that time that the sun was not setting in British colonies. Such historical changes and the not-insubstantial influence of Great Britain made the English language “lingua franca”. Also, its imperial policy provided British people with a sort of cultural, traditional, and language interchange. Looking at the perspective of hosting the Olympic Games in London in the year 2012 there are no anxieties about its success.

As Lord Coe said at one conference more than four years ago: “London will leave the IOC members – who must cast their final vote next July – in no doubt, it is capable of hosting a successful Olympic Games” (The Mirror, 2004). First, it is important to use the experience of other countries which carried out this arrangement. There will be no effects unless the persons responsible for the Games have The Olympic Design with detailed information on how to implement day-by-day organization into the final presentation of spot goods objects.

With regards to London, it would be fair to admit the following outgiving: “London’s bid includes the construction of a brand new complex aimed at reviving the East End. It also features traditional sites with Horse Guard’s Parade, Hyde Park and Lord’s all potential venues” (The Mirror, 2004). In combination with the existing advantages of the city’s sightseeing and the centuries-old history of its formation, one can also note an extra interest of foreigners in visiting London.

On the other hand, the city has the largest airport in the world, Heathrow, where new additional terminals are building and ready-to-explore The Millennium Stadium. First-class transport system within suburbs of London and France, meaning the tube ‘Pas des Calles’.

Realizing the fact that every Olympic Games are of global dimension, there should be an estimation of all pros and cons. In the era of high technologies the publicity should be informed with the process of preparation work, showing facts about the current lie of the land and stages on which the process is developing at the moment, and what event is taking place on the arena:

The one disappointment may be that the city has not been able to provide an Olympics “Live Site” for its residents. Live sites feature huge television screens that carry a direct feed of Olympics coverage; people can gather for free to enjoy a picnic or simply to hang out together and enjoy some of the Olympic excitement (Public Management, 2001).

Another not-so-good reason for conducting the summer Olympic Games in London is its weather issue. Many foreigners can just be annoyed with the climate of the city. It is normal for the citizens, but a possibly negative attitude of the continental audience would cause general public irritation. However, it is the little nothings of life, because in the summer heat there is nothing better than the coolness of the day, especially for athletes.

Further perspectives for the UK

The United Kingdom by hosting The Olympic Games can achieve several benefits concerning the economical part as well as cultural and emotional ones. The thing is that the aftereffect can lead to the further elaborateness of multinational Great Britain in terms of its cultural and racial diversity. The conduction of The Games in London will then influence its carriage in other countries of The Commonwealth. The first position after London still occupies Wales and Cardiff, in particular. Within many reasons to carry out The Olympic Games there one of its mild climates probably will contribute notwithstanding London.

As ‘Western Mail’ writes: “The Sports Council for Wales said a successful London bid could help Wales secure the Commonwealth Games in 2014” (Western Mail, 2004). Another note of above-mentioned newspaper outlines the role of The Olympic Games provided in London along with The Games in the year 2014 for further success of Great Britain on the world stage: “…an Olympics in London may leave the international sports community reluctant to give the Commonwealth Games to Wales just two years later” (Western Mail, 2004). So there are great perspectives for the UK as of London Olympic Games in 2014.

Reference List

‘The Art of Hosting the Olympic Games, from Managers Who Know’; Public Management, Vol. 83, 2001.

‘Olympic Games: Olympic Bid’s All Coe Now’; The Mirror (London, England), 2004.

‘Olympic Games in London Would Run All the Way to Wales’; Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales), 2004.

In the system of human values health traditionally occupies one of the leading positions. Nowadays healthy lifestyle is widely promoted in the media and ranks among the social assets mostly strived for. Healthy life is standardly associated with sports, as it allows maintaining body and mind in mint condition. Since times immemorial people have held mass sportive events, the concentration and essence of which are the Olympic Games. Embodying the ideas of community of spirit, prizing the values of excellence, respect and friendship, Olympics serve as a means for uniting people of the world with the objective to build a better world through sport.

As the event implies accumulation of huge amounts of people and requires using overwhelming amounts of energy, water, food and other supplies, especially nowadays when countries compete in making the opening and closing of Olympics as spectacular as possible, a question emerges about the environmental compliance of the Games — if they exert a destructive influence on the surroundings, or if they serve as an educative measure providing insight into the concepts of sustainability for millions of people worldwide. Before I undertook some reading on the topic, I used to consider the Olympic Games a spectacular occasion which despite its international importance brings more destruction than benefit to the environment. However, having got acquainted with the sources available, I realized that the Olympic environmental issue is far more developed than I had previously imagined.

In order to maintain and promote the principle of sustainability during the Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee directs its activities into two spheres: a) running awareness-raising and educational activities about the importance of the environment and sustainable development in sport; and b) encouraging Olympic Games which respect the environment and promote sustainable development. Tom Roper in his account of preparation for 2012 Olympics in London enlists the following strategies to be used while planning the major sport event of the planet:

1. waste minimization;
2. water efficiency and conservation;
3. energy efficiency;
4. air, land, and water pollution reduction;
5. biodiversity conservation;
6. social and economic development measures.” (Roper, 2006, p. 2)

It appears that already in 1994 at the Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway, attempts were made to bring the games in compliance with the ideas of sustainability; however, due to certain imperfections in construction those games cannot be fully named ‘green’:

“Although the bobsleigh track was buried in order to avoid altering the landscape and located away from people’s homes to prevent problems caused by ammonia, which is used for refrigeration and gives off a putrid smell, the construction of the ski jumping ramps did damage the environment.” (The Olympic Museum, 2009, p. 20)

But the first Olympics officially recognized as genuinely ‘green’ took place much later, in 2000 Sydney, and raising the bar high settled a standard for approach to Olympic arrangements for years onwards.

The environmental benefits emerging as a result of preparing for the Olympic Games in compliance with sustainability standards cannot be overestimated. 2000 Sydney witnessed the renovation of Sydney Olympic Park, the biggest urban renewal project in Australia at the time, integrated waste management, unprecedented use of public transport and the development of an energy policy (The Olympic Museum, 2009, p. 20). 2008 Beijing undertook ambitious environmental projects including improving its air quality and reducing its air pollution, introducing new wastewater treatment plants, solid waste processing facilities, increased forestation and green belt areas, and an improved public transportation fleet (United Nations Environmental Program, 2008). London in its preparation for the 2012 event claims to cover several areas of importance: minimizing greenhouse gas emissions, from construction to after the Games; encouraging the development of new waste processing infrastructure in east London and promoting changes in public attitudes and behaviour; fostering an understanding of the importance of biodiversity in supporting healthy lifestyles; promoting inclusion and attitude change, especially towards disability, celebrating the diversity of the people of the UK; creating new employment, training and business opportunities, contributing to the social and economic regeneration of communities; inspiring people across the country to take up sport and develop active, healthy and sustainable lifestyles (London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, 2008, p.6). Attempts have been made, though feeble, to carry the principles of Olympic sustainable building over to urban construction (Cooper & Symes, 2008, p. 264).

It should be emphasized that sustainability cannot be achieved by efforts of governments alone. During the environmental campaigns such ways of influencing public opinion and attitude are used as involving superstars in the popularization process and enrolling popular musicians and performers on international tours to offset emissions from concerts, travel, and production facilities (Roper, 2006, p.5). The Olympic Museum opens doors to public and provides comprehensive information on environmental issues of the Games. By means of joint effort and cooperation between governments, companies and nations, the idea of environmental friendliness of the Olympics acquires a more realistic view and opens perspectives on restoring and reintroducing the natural splendor of the planet.

References

Cooper, I., & Symes, M. (Eds.). (2008). Sustainable Urban Development 4: Rethinking Professionalism in Europe. New York, NY: Routlege.

London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. (2008). London 2012: Towards a One Planet 2012: Sustainability Plan Update. Web.

Roper, T. (2006). Producing Environmentally Sustainable Olympic Games and ‘Greening’ Major Public Events. Global Urban Development, 2 (1). Web.

The Olympic Museum. (2009). Vancouver 2010: Objective Sustainable Development. Web.

United Nations Environmental Program. (2008). Beijing 2008 Olympic Games: Environmental Review. Web.

The 1972 German massacre during the Olympic Games in Munich was shocking for the entire world. Although terrorism was already a renowned international threat in the 1970s, security during this event was not strong enough to prevent the invasion of the Olympic village by the Palestinian extremists (Hirsch, 2020). According to Spindlove and Simonsen (2018), on “September 5, 1972, eight members of the Palestinian Black September terrorist group entered the village” and “managed to secure … nine Israeli hostages” (p. 160). They demanded to release more than 200 Palestinian inmates from Israel’s prisons in exchange for the athletes, who would be killed if their request was not fulfilled (Spindlove & Simonsen, 2018). The leaders of the two affected countries decided not to accept extremists’ terms. Thus, the German military group opened fire on terrorists and their hostages, which resulted in the death of all of them (Spindlove & Simonsen, 2018). This accident strengthened Germany’s anti-terrorist agencies, while Israel responded with the Operation Wrath of God.

Germany had to implement additional regulations that could control immigrating Arabs and their organizations within the country to prevent similar tragic accidents in the future. The main reason why terrorists were able to invade the village was that the Games had weak security that was unarmed (History, 2021). Moreover, theories suggest that Palestinian extremists received assistance from the administration of the Olympic Games, but this information was never confirmed (Reeve, 2018). Germany established a GSG-9 agency, which became an elite anti-terror unit (Spindlove & Simonsen, 2018). Its principal function is to defeat terrorism and rescue hostages in case of an extremists attack (Reeve, 2018). Furthermore, the government was involved in a series of official meetings with the Palestinian Liberation Organization and the leaders of the Arab world to prevent similar attacks through cooperation (Hirsch, 2020). This situation was humiliating not only for the German government but also for the entire civilized community; hence, this issue and the importance of counterterrorism were taken to the international arena.

Israel’s response can be considered brutal because it involved chasing and killing the responsible parties, naming the operation with the emotive but relatively pretentious title “Wrath of God.” Israel’s Prime Minister claimed they refused to negotiate with the terrorists because “no Israeli anywhere in the world can feel that his life is safe” (History, 2021). In fact, their primary aim was not only vengeance for the murdered athletes; they also wanted to spread fear among all Palestinians. Thus, Israel created a special committee that had to identify and kill everyone who was involved in the Munich massacre (Reeve, 2018). This operation continued for more than twenty years, with multiple wins and minor losses for Mossad (Reeve, 2018). Undoubtedly, this event was a horrendous incident for the Israeli people and the global community.

In summary, the tragic accident that happened at the 1972 Olympic Games in Germany showed the existing security problems in the country. Since Palestinian terrorists targeted Israeli athletes, who died during the rescue operation, the government of Israel responded with their readiness to destroy the involved individuals and groups. Germany also strengthened its counterterrorist actions by creating a special agency to fight extremism in the country. Overall, it appears that the Munich tragedy became the premise for the increased awareness about extremists internationally and coordinated counterterrorism work in the affected countries.

References

Hirsch, P. (2020). Politics as counterterrorism: The role of diplomacy in the West German response to Palestinian terror, 1970–1975.Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression, 12(3), 186-202. Web.

History. (2021). Munich massacre.Web.

Reeve, S. (2018). One day in September: The full story of the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre and the Israeli revenge operation “Wrath of God.” Arcade Publishing.

Spindlove, J. R., & Simonsen, C. E. (2018). Terrorism today: The past, the players, the future (6th ed.). Pearson.

Introduction

On 27th July, 2012, the London Olympic Games will kick off (London & Partners, n.d., pp.1). The event will bring together athletes from all around the world to compete in a total of 26 sport events (London & Partners, n.d., pp.2.) Indeed, the London Olympic Games is attracting a lot of international and local press coverage. This is always the situation with all Olympic events.

The event has its impact on the economy of its host country and vice versa. Hosting the Olympics requires that a country has an economy that is stable as the event is quite costly. In this report, we explore the impact of London economy on the Olympics.

Discussion

London: The strategic environment

London will be the venue for the 2012 Olympics event. In the United Kingdom statistics reveal that London is the largest metropolitan area (Pricewaterhousecoopers, 2009, pp.21). Similarly, statistics reveal that it is also Europeans Union largest urban zone.

London receives the most international visits than any other place in the planet. The city’s Heathrow airport serves the highest number of international passengers compared to all other airports and thus it is the busiest airport in the world (USA Today, 2011, pp. 8). The city has the most number of universities in Europe which makes it the largest higher education hub on the continent (London.gov.uk, 2008, pp.3).

According to 2010 data, among the municipalities of Europe, London is the most populated with a population of 7,825,200 people. According to the same data, it is the second most populated urban area in Europe. It’s metropolitan area is also the largest in the European Union with a population of 12-14 million people.

London’s economy

17% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the United Kingdom is generated by London (USA Today, 2011, pp. 2). Economic activities done in the city’s metropolitan area yield 30% of the United Kingdom’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (Lecomte, n.d., pp.76). London is associated with financial dealings of great global prominence and as such challenges New York’s position as the world’s most important financial hub.

The city’s most thriving industry is finance whose exports make London a major contributor to United Kingdom’s balance of payments. In 2007, London’s finance industry had employed 325,000 people. In London there are 480 overseas banks that make it the city with the highest number of overseas banks in the world.

London’s service industry currently employs about 85% of the city’s population. The city’s economy was not spared by the 2008/9 global financial crisis and as a result the city estimated that 70,000 finance jobs were lost in a year. Huge financial institutions located in London include the Bank of England (BOE) and London Stock exchange (LSE).

The city is the headquarter of the FTSE 100 and over 100 of the largest company’s Europe. The city also hosts major media companies such as the BBC and the media distribution industry in the city is among the top most competitive industries. The city’s port, which in terms of size is the second-largest in the UK handles approximately 45 million tonnes of cargo annually.

Another of London’s major industries is tourism, which is associated with annual revenue ranging between £7-10bn (London & Partners, n.d., pp.1). The industry has however been on a downturn owing to recent terrorist attacks. Though not a thriving industry like finance, manufacturing and production is a significant employer of London’s workforce.

The industry contributes 11% of the city’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 8% of United Kingdom’s manufacturing output (USA Today, 2011, pp. 2). The workforce concentrated in London’s Metropolitan area is the largest in Europe at 9,000,000 people. Office space in London is quite difficult to come by due to low supply and as a consequence it is very costly.

Actually, in 2002 the city had the highest office occupation costs in the world (USA Today, 2011, pp. 10). Great strides made in London’s telecommunications and transport infrastructure have facilitated the realization of smooth supply chains and healthy competition in the city’s various industries.

As a consequence of the competition, London has some of the lowest costs compared to other cities in the European Union (USA Today, 2011, pp. 10). Utility Costs in London are very friendly.

Economic concepts and their effects

Supply and demand is one of the concepts of economics (Biattie, n.d., pp.3 ). In a market, when demand for a product overwhelms its supply the supplier of the product raises its price so that he or she can make more profits (Biattie, n.d., pp.3 ).

However, when the supply overwhelms demand the supplier lessens the price of the product so that he or she can manage some sales (Biattie, n.d., pp.3). To illustrate how supply and demand will impact London with respect to the 2012 London Olympics we consider some cases.

The games demand for tourist accommodation in London will obviously overwhelm supply, therefore, as discussed above cost of accommodation will most likely go up (London Olympics 2012, 2011, pp.1). This means that the city’s tourism industry will experience a lot of growth owing to increased returns and most likely will contribute more to the city’s and UK’s Gross Domestic product (GDP).

In the period during the games demand for transport services is also expected to go up and as a consequence is its cost. Therefore, the transport sector is another beneficiary of the 2012 Olympic Games. Generally, demand for most things is expected to grow drastically as we approach the Olympic Games and as consequence so are prices.

From an economic point view this will be very benefitting as shown by the examples above. Thus the supply and demand concept is destined to have a very handsome effect on the economy of London, the strategic environment of the 2012 Olympics.

Scarcity is another concept of economics (Biattie, n.d., pp. 1 ). The concept emphasizes that given the dynamics of the world choices have to be made. The concept is applied in scenarios where needs unlike means are unlimited (Biattie, n.d., pp.1).

In such situation a choice has to be made on what need is to be attended to. The market system is what determines the need and the degree of attention to it. To illustrate how scarcity will impact London with respect to the 2012 London Olympics we consider some cases.

As we approach the Olympic Games the demand for public transport is expected to grow. Therefore the London market will be in need of public transport means such as taxis, buses, etc.

By law of scarcity it is more beneficial for a vehicle manufacturer to produce vehicles that can be used for public transport rather than put up luxury vehicles as this will be a step towards meeting the demand which in turn means more sales for the manufacturer. Beer consumption is also expected to rise during the Olympics.

According to the concept of scarcity it will be much more beneficial for a wheat farmer to do business with a brewer than with a baker as the former’s demand for the raw material will be higher meaning good profits for the farmer.

The concept of scarcity will help facilitate the meeting of demand. It thus can have both a positive and negative impact on London’s economy depending on whether the perfect balance is stuck between demand and supply. At the raw material level sales should be expected to rise, however, London is not a producer of raw materials so these benefits may be enjoyed elsewhere.

However, if the balance is met meaning that supply will not overwhelm demand then scarcity is expected to have a direct positive impact on London, the strategic environment of the 2012 Olympics.

Cost and benefit is another concepts of economics (Biattie, n.d., pp.4). This concept emphasizes the fact that an individual will make a choice that he or she thinks will be the most beneficial to him or her (Biattie, n.d., pp.4). Unlike scarcity, there is no clear relationship between demand and supply; cost and benefit. When a person walks to a store to buy a TV set, he or she will settle for the one that is affordable.

The TV set the person buys may not be the one of best quality. Thus, the person makes the choice because it is rational. Considering the case at hand, most people might find it rationale to watch the games on their television sets at home.

Thus, the option of travelling to London to watch the games alive will not be appealing to them. This minimizes the earnings the city will accrue from the event and thus the cost and benefit concept is likely to have a negative impact on the city’s economy.

Opportunity cost is another of the concepts of economics (NetMBA.com, 2010, pp.1). It tests the worth of a decision by exploring whether an alternative to it would have yielded more benefits (Ivestopedia ULC, n.d., pp.1). For instance, when a person chooses to go to school instead of working, the opportunity cost will help determine whether the person made a good decision or not.

Scarcity is what brings about opportunity cost as it necessitates the need for making choice. In economics opportunity cost always exists when there is a choice to be made between multiple options (NetMBA.com, 2010, pp.1). Considering our case, when a tourist considers an opportunity cost involved in travelling to London to watch the Olympic Games he or she can easily think otherwise.

This is because it would be more beneficial for the individual to invest that time and money on an income generating venture. Therefore, using this illustration it can be concluded that the concept of opportunity cost is expected to have a negative impact on London, the strategic environment of the 2012 Olympics.

Competition: for or against?

Competition is an economic phenomenon displayed in the market place (Ivestopedia ULC, n.d., pp.1). It ensures that in a particular business dealing neither the buyer nor the seller has a complete influence on the price of a product (WebFinance, 2011, pp.1). When sellers compete amongst themselves it is that they secure favourable offers from potential buyers (Kasper, n.d., pp.1).

In the same way when buyers compete amongst themselves they secure favourable offers from sellers (Kasper, n.d., pp.1). Competition is characterized by free will, motivation and self interest of the market participants (Kasper, n.d., pp.1). Competition is a process that typically involves sellers bringing down their offers and buyers aimed at weathering the competition.

Competition leads to enlightenment in two ways (Kasper, n.d., pp.2). The first is when a business dealing ends in profit for a seller. The second is when a business dealing ends in a loss for a seller; the seller’s competitors learn from it and know what to lay off or change. Healthy competition in a market is essential in the fulfilment of 3 functions that are vital for the society (Kasper, n.d., pp.14).

The first is discovery; inherently competition is an incentive that drives market participants to search for knowledge (Kasper, n.d., pp.15). The knowledge gained from the search leads to discovery of better and improved products. The second function is selection and peaceful coordination, competition promotes selection which triggers a quest for knowledge (Kasper, n.d., pp.16).

In a market with healthy competition there are no conflicts on price as a participant’s involvement in a business negotiation is out of his free will and self interest, thus competition promotes peaceful coordination.

The third function is the power control, in the market with healthy competition there is no monopoly leading to uncontrollable power (Kasper, n.d., pp.17). In monopolies prices of commodities which can be hiked to the satisfaction of an individual but not the whole society.

Recommendations

A recommendation made in this report is that city of London should embark on a marketing and advertising campaign. Marketing is a management activity aimed at achieving the exchange of products between market participants (MarketingTeacher.com, 2011, pp.1). Advertising is the promotional service paid for by a sponsor that is set towards facilitating more sales on the sponsor’s product (About.com, 2011, pp.3).

Marketing and advertising are critical in reversing the effects that the opportunity cost, cost and benefit economic concepts have on London, the strategic environment of the 2012 Olympics. The two economic concepts have been seen to have a negative impact on London, the strategic environment of the 2012 Olympics.

Through advertising and marketing, people can be successfully persuaded to travel to London and watch the games alive. This is an outcome that will have a positive economic impact on the city. The marketing and advertising campaign should be aimed at convincing people that travelling to the city to watch the games. That is, the campaign should give people a convincing reason to travel to the city for the Olympics in 2012.

Another recommendation by this report is that the city puts together a team of economists who advise on the actions to be taken with respect to the event. When discussing the impact that scarcity has on London it was pointed out that there is a need for the proper balance to be struck so that the concept can have a positive impact on the city. Putting up together a team of economic experts is a huge stride in achieving this balance.

The experts monitor the economy with respect to the Olympics carefully examining demand and supply of different products and when needed making recommendations to the city that maintain the desired balance between the two aspects. In addition to this it is important for the city to know the economic effect that will follow after the conclusion of the games.

A period of high economic growth immediately followed by one of relatively low growth can have damaging effects on the economy. The team of experts is critical in identifying such effects and developing action plans against them. In addition the experts can enlighten the city on how to introduce and maintain healthy competition in the 2012 Olympic Games market.

Cost of production in an entity using the economies of density approach goes down as the population density increases (Encyclo MMXI, n.d., pp.1). Now, during the 2012 Olympic Games London population is expected to swell.

It is therefore a strategic move for the city to tune its production to an economy of density approach so that during the Olympic Games when the population density rises, the costs of production go down. Thus, the economy of the city benefits from the reduced costs of production.

Conclusion

This report is of the conclusion that demand and supply will have a positive impact on London, the strategic environment of the 2012 Olympics. This report also concludes that scarcity will have a positive impact on London if the right balance is realized between supply and demand.

This report concludes that cost and benefit will have a negative impact on London’s economy. This report is of the conclusion that opportunity cost will have a negative impact on the economy of London. Finally, this report concludes that competition if introduced into the 2012 Olympic game market will have positive results on both buyers and sellers.

References

About.com. (2011). Marketing vs. Advertising: What’s the Difference? Web.

Biattie, A. 4 economic concepts consumers need to know. Web.

Encyclo MMXI. Look up: Economies of Density. Web.

Ivestopedia ULC. Economics Basics: Monopolies, Oligopolies and Perfect Competition. Web.

Ivestopedia ULC. Opportunity Cost. Web.

Kasper, W. Competition. Web.

Lecomte, D. The economic positioning of metropolitan areas in western Europe. Web.

London. (2008). Number of international students in London continues to grow. Web.

London & Partners. London 2012 Olympic games. Web.

London Olympics 2012. (2011). Accommodation. Web.

MarketingTeacher.com. (2011). What is marketing. Web.

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Pricewaterhousecoopers. (2009). III – Which are the largest city economies in the world and how might this change by 2025? Web.

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