ABSTRACT

While there are still some major 1 sports events that can be successfully organised without direct government involvement, the number is almost certainly decreasing as a proportion of mega and major sports events. The highly commercially successful sports such as tennis, golf, American football, soccer, basketball and rugby union are, in some countries, able to organise domestic and international sports events relatively independently of government. However, even these sports have become progressively dependent on government, especially with regard to the hosting of events such as continental or world championships. Not only are governments increasingly expected (and in some cases required) to give international sport federations (IF) or other event organisers such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC), financial assurances against losses by the rights holder, they are also expected to provide other forms of significant indirect support including fast-tracking land-use planning proposals, upgrading transport infrastructure and, in more recent years, providing substantial security for venues, participants and spectators. Once one moves beyond the relatively small proportion of financially self-sufficient sports events, the role of government becomes fundamental to the successful delivery of the event. Most major sports events and certainly most summer and winter Olympic sports events require financial subsidy from government and many also require the organisational resources and political legitimacy that are only available from government.