| dc.description.abstract | This thesis investigates the transport component of mega-event driven development through the case studies of four former Olympic host cities: Athens (2004), Beijing (2008), London (2012) and Rio de Janeiro (2016). By comparing each city’s baseline scenario with the transport changes that were promised in its bid to the IOC and those then implemented in the lead-up to the Games, the catalytic effect of Olympics-hosting on improving a city’s transport - particularly public transport - infrastructure will be outlined. The impact of these Olympics-driven changes will then be investigated, through an analysis of the effect this had on the longer-term trajectory of each city’s transit system and the behaviours and perceptions of those that interact with it. This is uncovered through an analysis of transport-related media reports published before, during and after the Games (to gain an understanding of reported public opinion); academic and grey literature on the Olympics’ transport legacy (including policies that were introduced during the Games and maintained or tightened afterwards, or transport lines that were built for the event and extended after it was over); and available public opinion surveys on their perception of these transport changes. Through comparison across the four case studies, this thesis concludes that Olympics-hosting does spur the rapid development of a city’s transit system, especially the coverage and capacity of its public transport network. However, this comes at a cost - in terms of public finance (especially for small or lower/middle income countries); opportunity (with money spent on, e.g., new airport-to-city centre connections or venue-to-venue lines that might better serve the local community if used on other projects); and equity (with new lines not affordable for, or useful to, all residents). This impact is correlated with each city’s baseline scenario, with those that have more limited infrastructure at the time of bidding experiencing the most rapid developments in their transport system, but also more likely to experience the aforementioned costs. | |
