The (Wide) World of Sports Events

Sports events come in many shapes and sizes, and can be categorised according to a number of parameters. They include size, spatial characteristics, temporal characteristics, sporting characteristics, financial objective, and renown. The world of sport events is changing rapidly both in terms of where events are staged and the nature of events with respect to the typology. As sports events have grown in number and in size, as well as in complexity, sport event managers have had to adapt to the new realities of hosting sports events. Some events are exceptional and are very difficult to obtain. These mega events essentially consist of the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, Continental Games, the Football World Cup and European Football Championships, and a small number of world championships. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.