Event Title

Parallel Session 13, Events Track: A Longitudinal Study of the Long-Term Events Impacts for Weymouth UK From Hosting Events for London 2012

Location

Classroom 205

Start Date

14-12-2017 12:45 PM

End Date

14-12-2017 1:10 PM

Description

Impacts and legacies are often cited as the rationale for public expenditure on events within tourism portfolios. Examples of such impacts include not only negative outcomes, such as high levels of public expenditure, but also positive outcomes such as improved infrastructure and redevelopment of urban areas. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has, in recent times, struggled to find host cities for the Games due to a lack of community support for bids over concerns about the long term impacts (aperianglobal.com, 2016). It is suggested that, however, in the longer term, the positive legacy benefits can outweigh any short term negative impacts, particularly if the resort/town is in need of regeneration. This paper, therefore, explores the role of such events within resort regeneration through the application of the life cycle theories of Butler (1980) and Russell and Faulkner (1999) to the non-economic impacts upon the host venue for the sailing competitions of the London 2012 Olympic - Weymouth & Portland, UK. Events such as these are extremely significant as "they may leave behind legacies which will impact on the host community far more widely than the immediate period in which the event actually took place" (Hall, 1992, p1). At the start of this research, the local council had drawn up comprehensive plans to ensure the potential hosting of the sailing element of the 2012 bid would have positive long-term legacies for the area. They also recognised the significance of hosting festivals and events not only as generators of income but also as civic celebrations.

The research design adopted was a mixed method, longitudinal study examining over 14 years of data related to the social impacts of the sailing event. The original quantitative (questionnaire) and qualitative research (interviews) to evaluate the community's views on the impacts of hosting events within Weymouth & Portland were carried out with the assistance of the Borough Council, Local Chamber of Commerce, Sailing Authorities, Citizen's Panel and individual citizens via questionnaires (n=447) with follow-up 8 semi-structured interviews. The second data set was much smaller due to the citizen's panel no longer being active due to cuts, yet a response of 107 completed questionnaires from a post code distribution matching the original post codes was achieved. The questionnaires were analysed via SPSS and compared across the two data sets.

It was discovered when the first questionnaire was distributed in 2003 to members of the local citizen's panel, that the residents' had major concerns and fears over negative impacts prior to the Games taking place and afterwards (Sadd & Jackson, 2006). Furthermore, it was identified that it was a once in a lifetime opportunity for Weymouth from the hosting including the global exposure and chance to re-launch the area's identity (Sadd, 2006). Initial findings from 2017 clearly shows that little change has been done to improve facilities beyond those for the sailing community, hence the comments about gentrification as it would appear that the town is somewhat indecisive as to whether they have benefited from the hosting of the sailing events for the main Games and the Paralympic Games. It is clearly attempting to re-launch its identity as a watersports venue but at the expense of the locals.

In 2017 key themes that emerged were:The council lack a vision of any description in that they curtail any good suggestions e.g. green housing, festivals, need more sporting events,Town is desperate for regeneration and improved facilities it lags well behind other towns and it needs to look to the future and not delve into a bygone era.Having travelled more around the southwest recently, I am staggered at how poor the conditions are in WeymouthThe area is lovely but let own by the local council

In 2003, some residents felt that the council placed the wishes and needs of the tourists above those of the residents, yet this was needed to generate income for the town. In comparison, the second data set collected in 2017, shows that whilst there were strong indicators of improvements, the town still suffered from an identity crisis and tried to cater to all sectors of the tourism market, again putting visitors' needs above those of the locals. Furthermore, a lot of investment had been placed into facilities for this limited market sector and not for the locals, invested in sporting facilities, which were viewed as elitist and not for all sectors of society. Furthermore, there are tensions about how it wants to position itself with regard to attracting visitors and income to the town, thus still unsure as to the stage in the resort lifecycle they find themselves now. The hosting of the Games was supposed to help them re-generate the town and area, but there is evidence that pockets of the town have been gentrified instead. However, according to the life cycle arguments, this could be a positive way for the town to generate more income from re launching its perceived image to tourists.

In conclusion, despite promises made and opportunities offered by the hosting of the sailing competitions, the town is divided with the residents believing they have not benefitted in the long term whilst the council are trying to re-launch the town into a water sport resort. Whilst the original research highlighted concerns it also identified opportunities for positive long term impacts and legacies. It is clear from the latter research that this is highly localised and perhaps aimed more at the visitor economy than the local residents.

It is important to measure these long term legacies as often there are immediate benefits that are deemed unacceptable or some benefits that do not accrue until later in the lifecycle. Therefore from both an industry perspective and also for academics, by measuring these impacts over a longer time scale allows for more understanding of the opportunities for improvement and enhancement through studying life cycles. The contribution to academia arises from there being very few examples in of such long term studies beyond those undertaken by the Olympic Games Impact Studies (IOC, May 2016) which will not necessarily highlight negative consequences.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

Import Event to Google Calendar

COinS
 
Dec 14th, 12:45 PM Dec 14th, 1:10 PM

Parallel Session 13, Events Track: A Longitudinal Study of the Long-Term Events Impacts for Weymouth UK From Hosting Events for London 2012

Classroom 205

Impacts and legacies are often cited as the rationale for public expenditure on events within tourism portfolios. Examples of such impacts include not only negative outcomes, such as high levels of public expenditure, but also positive outcomes such as improved infrastructure and redevelopment of urban areas. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has, in recent times, struggled to find host cities for the Games due to a lack of community support for bids over concerns about the long term impacts (aperianglobal.com, 2016). It is suggested that, however, in the longer term, the positive legacy benefits can outweigh any short term negative impacts, particularly if the resort/town is in need of regeneration. This paper, therefore, explores the role of such events within resort regeneration through the application of the life cycle theories of Butler (1980) and Russell and Faulkner (1999) to the non-economic impacts upon the host venue for the sailing competitions of the London 2012 Olympic - Weymouth & Portland, UK. Events such as these are extremely significant as "they may leave behind legacies which will impact on the host community far more widely than the immediate period in which the event actually took place" (Hall, 1992, p1). At the start of this research, the local council had drawn up comprehensive plans to ensure the potential hosting of the sailing element of the 2012 bid would have positive long-term legacies for the area. They also recognised the significance of hosting festivals and events not only as generators of income but also as civic celebrations.

The research design adopted was a mixed method, longitudinal study examining over 14 years of data related to the social impacts of the sailing event. The original quantitative (questionnaire) and qualitative research (interviews) to evaluate the community's views on the impacts of hosting events within Weymouth & Portland were carried out with the assistance of the Borough Council, Local Chamber of Commerce, Sailing Authorities, Citizen's Panel and individual citizens via questionnaires (n=447) with follow-up 8 semi-structured interviews. The second data set was much smaller due to the citizen's panel no longer being active due to cuts, yet a response of 107 completed questionnaires from a post code distribution matching the original post codes was achieved. The questionnaires were analysed via SPSS and compared across the two data sets.

It was discovered when the first questionnaire was distributed in 2003 to members of the local citizen's panel, that the residents' had major concerns and fears over negative impacts prior to the Games taking place and afterwards (Sadd & Jackson, 2006). Furthermore, it was identified that it was a once in a lifetime opportunity for Weymouth from the hosting including the global exposure and chance to re-launch the area's identity (Sadd, 2006). Initial findings from 2017 clearly shows that little change has been done to improve facilities beyond those for the sailing community, hence the comments about gentrification as it would appear that the town is somewhat indecisive as to whether they have benefited from the hosting of the sailing events for the main Games and the Paralympic Games. It is clearly attempting to re-launch its identity as a watersports venue but at the expense of the locals.

In 2017 key themes that emerged were:The council lack a vision of any description in that they curtail any good suggestions e.g. green housing, festivals, need more sporting events,Town is desperate for regeneration and improved facilities it lags well behind other towns and it needs to look to the future and not delve into a bygone era.Having travelled more around the southwest recently, I am staggered at how poor the conditions are in WeymouthThe area is lovely but let own by the local council

In 2003, some residents felt that the council placed the wishes and needs of the tourists above those of the residents, yet this was needed to generate income for the town. In comparison, the second data set collected in 2017, shows that whilst there were strong indicators of improvements, the town still suffered from an identity crisis and tried to cater to all sectors of the tourism market, again putting visitors' needs above those of the locals. Furthermore, a lot of investment had been placed into facilities for this limited market sector and not for the locals, invested in sporting facilities, which were viewed as elitist and not for all sectors of society. Furthermore, there are tensions about how it wants to position itself with regard to attracting visitors and income to the town, thus still unsure as to the stage in the resort lifecycle they find themselves now. The hosting of the Games was supposed to help them re-generate the town and area, but there is evidence that pockets of the town have been gentrified instead. However, according to the life cycle arguments, this could be a positive way for the town to generate more income from re launching its perceived image to tourists.

In conclusion, despite promises made and opportunities offered by the hosting of the sailing competitions, the town is divided with the residents believing they have not benefitted in the long term whilst the council are trying to re-launch the town into a water sport resort. Whilst the original research highlighted concerns it also identified opportunities for positive long term impacts and legacies. It is clear from the latter research that this is highly localised and perhaps aimed more at the visitor economy than the local residents.

It is important to measure these long term legacies as often there are immediate benefits that are deemed unacceptable or some benefits that do not accrue until later in the lifecycle. Therefore from both an industry perspective and also for academics, by measuring these impacts over a longer time scale allows for more understanding of the opportunities for improvement and enhancement through studying life cycles. The contribution to academia arises from there being very few examples in of such long term studies beyond those undertaken by the Olympic Games Impact Studies (IOC, May 2016) which will not necessarily highlight negative consequences.