Mega sporting event legacies: a multifaceted concept

The legacy of mega sporting events can be perceived in several ways. It can be seen as positive or negative, tangible or intangible, territorial or personal, intentional or unintentional, global or local, short- or long-term, sport- or non sport-related, and can also be seen from the various event stakeholders’ perspectives. In fact, it is much more appropriate to talk about legacies in the plural than simply legacy. This paper gives a broad overview of an often used but rarely defined concept, using examples from the legacies of the Olympic and Commonwealth Games, arguably two of the most important mega sporting events. It concludes that legacy essentially is a dream to be pursued rather than a certainty to be achieved