The Role and Impact of Sporting Mega-Events in the Context of Soft Power

“Mega-events” are characterized as expansive cultural gatherings. They include both sporting and commercial elements, and they collectively exert significant global influence and appeal. “Sporting mega-events”, in particular, represent a central component of such gatherings and serve as key expressi...

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Main Authors: Tariq Alshikhy, Helen O’Sullivan, Martyn Polkinghorne, Ellie Gennings
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Encyclopedia
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8392/5/1/31
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author Tariq Alshikhy
Helen O’Sullivan
Martyn Polkinghorne
Ellie Gennings
author_facet Tariq Alshikhy
Helen O’Sullivan
Martyn Polkinghorne
Ellie Gennings
author_sort Tariq Alshikhy
collection DOAJ
description “Mega-events” are characterized as expansive cultural gatherings. They include both sporting and commercial elements, and they collectively exert significant global influence and appeal. “Sporting mega-events”, in particular, represent a central component of such gatherings and serve as key expressions of national soft power on the world stage. “Soft power” encompasses practices and behaviors aimed at cultivating relational capital, and according to Nye, effective soft power strategies rely on streamlined processes and a blend of tangible and intangible resources to communicate influence, negotiate power, and achieve desired outcomes. In the context of sporting mega-events, soft power operates through cooperation and the alignment of shared interests rather than coercion, thereby appealing to international audiences, and governments therefore strategically host these events to enhance their global standing and secure diplomatic and economic benefits.
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spelling doaj-art-680a282aecbe48e99708222ae156f1db2025-08-20T02:42:41ZengMDPI AGEncyclopedia2673-83922025-02-01513110.3390/encyclopedia5010031The Role and Impact of Sporting Mega-Events in the Context of Soft PowerTariq Alshikhy0Helen O’Sullivan1Martyn Polkinghorne2Ellie Gennings3Business School, Bournemouth University, Poole BH12 5BB, UKBusiness School, Bournemouth University, Poole BH12 5BB, UKBusiness School, Bournemouth University, Poole BH12 5BB, UKBusiness School, Bournemouth University, Poole BH12 5BB, UK“Mega-events” are characterized as expansive cultural gatherings. They include both sporting and commercial elements, and they collectively exert significant global influence and appeal. “Sporting mega-events”, in particular, represent a central component of such gatherings and serve as key expressions of national soft power on the world stage. “Soft power” encompasses practices and behaviors aimed at cultivating relational capital, and according to Nye, effective soft power strategies rely on streamlined processes and a blend of tangible and intangible resources to communicate influence, negotiate power, and achieve desired outcomes. In the context of sporting mega-events, soft power operates through cooperation and the alignment of shared interests rather than coercion, thereby appealing to international audiences, and governments therefore strategically host these events to enhance their global standing and secure diplomatic and economic benefits.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8392/5/1/31sporting mega-eventsoft powerglobal visibilitynational identityurban transformationeconomic impact
spellingShingle Tariq Alshikhy
Helen O’Sullivan
Martyn Polkinghorne
Ellie Gennings
The Role and Impact of Sporting Mega-Events in the Context of Soft Power
Encyclopedia
sporting mega-event
soft power
global visibility
national identity
urban transformation
economic impact
title The Role and Impact of Sporting Mega-Events in the Context of Soft Power
title_full The Role and Impact of Sporting Mega-Events in the Context of Soft Power
title_fullStr The Role and Impact of Sporting Mega-Events in the Context of Soft Power
title_full_unstemmed The Role and Impact of Sporting Mega-Events in the Context of Soft Power
title_short The Role and Impact of Sporting Mega-Events in the Context of Soft Power
title_sort role and impact of sporting mega events in the context of soft power
topic sporting mega-event
soft power
global visibility
national identity
urban transformation
economic impact
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8392/5/1/31
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