Promoting policies for sustainable mega-sport events

Research team and collaborators 

The research team includes Professor Eleni Theodoraki of the UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, and collaborators at:

• Edinburgh Napier University, UK (Professor Jane Ali-Knight, Dr Maktoba Omar, Dr Nathalia Tjandra, Dr Ivana Rihova, Dr Todd Louise, Dr Constantia Anastasiadou)
• Glasgow Caledonian University (Dr Maren Viol)
• University of Hertfordshire, UK (Dr Sarah Snell)
• Qatar University, Qatar (Dr Mahfoud Amara)
• Stenden Univeristy, Qatar (D. Dan Musinguzi and Dr Girish Nair)
• ATPI, The Netherlands (Ms Claire den Hertog)
• Libera Università Maria SS. Assunta, Rome (Professor Laura Michelini and Professor Gennaro Iasevoli)

The associated impact activities were undertaken by Professor Theodoraki.

Funding

• Scottish Enterprise. Project title: Economic impacts from pre-games training related activities of national teams attending the London 2012 Olympic and the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. 1 Mar 2011 - 31 Jul 2012.
• Qatar National Research Fund. Project title: Leveraging the 2022 Qatar World Football Cup for the promotion of green and active living. A multiple stakeholder evaluation of strategic options. 11 Jan, 2013 - 31 Mar 2016.

Media articles

• The National-Arab Emirates. (opens in a new window)Joint bid to identify positive legacies of FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar. Qatar research plan designed to help to enable development. 1 May 2014.

• Construction Week. (opens in a new window)Researchers in sustainable Qatar World Cup legacy. Stenden University Qatar to explore green and active living in project. 12 Apr 2014.

• Arabian Business (opens in a new window)Qatar Researchers to find ‘Sustainable World Cup Legacy. 10 Apr 2014.

• Gulf Times. (opens in a new window)QNRF Grant for Stenden University. 9 April 2014.

• Australian Leisure Management. (opens in a new window)Qatar Government backs massive investment in sport and related infrastructure. 15 April 2014.

• The Conversation. (opens in a new window)There would be no shame in Brazil ditching the Olympics. 8 May 2014.

• The Scotsman. (opens in a new window)It’s game on when it comes to keeping sport clean. 7 April 2016.

Television

• Russian 24 TV. Interview on long-term effects of the FIFA 2014 Brazil World Cup, 5 June 2014.

Policy links

• Acknowledgement of membership role of UNESCO expert working group in the (opens in a new window)Kazan 2017 Final Report.

• Acknowledgement of membership role of UNESCO expert working group in the (opens in a new window)Doha 2015 Final Report.

• Engagement with campaign and pressure group of Transparency International, leading to publication of research synopsis on event management in (opens in a new window)Transparency International’s Sport: Global Corruption Report.

Research references

• Theodoraki, E. (2009). (opens in a new window)Organisational communication on the impacts of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events, 1, (141-155).

• Theodoraki, E. (2015). (opens in a new window)Evaluation and legacy of the European capitals of culture: event owner and event hosts’ perspectives. Economia della Cultura, XXIV n. 2.

• Amara, M., & Theodoraki, E. (2010). (opens in a new window)Transnational network formation through sports related regional development projects in the Arabian Peninsula. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 2(2), (135-158). 1940-6940.

• Michelini, L., Iasevoli, G., Theodoraki, E. (2017). (opens in a new window)Event venue satisfaction and its impact on sponsorship outcomes. Event Management, Vol 21 (2) ISSN 1525-9951.

• Viol, M., Todd, L., Theodoraki, E., & Anastasiadou, C. (2018). (opens in a new window)The role of iconic-historic commemorative events in event tourism: Insights from the 20th and 25th anniversaries of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Tourism Management, 69, 246-262.

• Tjandra, N., Rihova, I., Snell, S., den Hertog, C., & Theodoraki, E. (2020). (opens in a new window)Mega-events brand meaning co-creation: the Olympic case. Journal of Product & Brand Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print.