Is hosting a sporting mega-event worth it to the host city? Impact of hosting sporting mega-events on residents' sense of community

The present study empirically investigates a model of residents’ intention to support the Asian Games based on the theory of reasoned action (TRA) and social exchange theory (SET). The model proposes that residents’ intention to support hosting a sporting mega-event, mediates the relationship between the benefits they perceive in serving as host and their sense of community. The results indicate that the perceived positive benefits and intention of residents to support, affect their sense of community. Thus, in order to develop a sense of community of residents, these aspects should be enhanced in researchers’ models. The findings of this work will provide authorities and event organisers with comprehensive and multidimensional knowledge about the positive impacts of hosting mega-events, as well as information important to determining the likelihood that their objectives will be realised as expected. Finally, certain theoretical and managerial implications are also discussed.Keywords: Sporting mega-event; Hosting a sporting mega-event; Perceived benefits; Intention to support; Sense of community; Asian Games