Azzali, Simona (2016) Sustainable and liveable open spaces in the city of Doha: an investigation into the legacies of mega sports events. In: [Presented at] 4th World Planning Schools Congress. From: IV World Planning Schools Congress 2016 (WPSC 2016), 3-7 July 2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

[Extract] Mega (sports) events and cities have had a controversial relationship since ancient times. However, since the beginning of the XX century, mega-¬‐events facedan exponential growth in terms of number of athletes and competitions, spectators, costs, and impact on the built environment. Nowadays, all major cities have planned or are planning to host a mega-¬‐event, but what is the rationale for it? One of the main reasons claimed is that events can play as the catalyst for urban development, leading to regeneration and modernization of the built and natural environment (among others: Malfas, Theodoraki and Houlihan, 2004; Musco, 2012). Another reason is the supposedeconomic growth trigged by events, along with the development of the tourism industry. Mega-¬‐events are considered a tempting opportunity in urban policy as tools for enhancing the quality of the environment. They generate a spectacle that can catalyze investment worldwide, creating city branding through place marketing strategies, and accelerating urban regeneration and development (Essex and Chalkey, 1998). In a sense, mega-¬‐events addsome elements of advantage and disadvantage to the urban planning processes. Pursuing the redevelopment of the city only through extraordinary events can be a risky approach, as the speed and acceleration given by mega events are not necessarily synonymous with good planning (Death 2011; Smith, 2012; Musco, 2012). On one hand, thanks to the availability of special funding and deadlines usually unavoidable, the implementation of interventions enjoys a sort of guarantee on the result; but at the same time, the event needs to be strongly planned and managed, if the aim is to givethe city new livable and sustainable areas for its residents.

Item ID:	54637
Item Type:	Conference Item (Non-Refereed Research Paper)
Keywords:	Doha, stadiums, public spaces, mega sports events, legacy planning
Funders:	Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF)
Projects and Grants:	QNRF GSRA1-1-1119-13007
Date Deposited:	02 Aug 2018 02:38
FoR Codes:	12 BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND DESIGN > 1205 Urban and Regional Planning > 120508 Urban Design @ 40% 16 STUDIES IN HUMAN SOCIETY > 1605 Policy and Administration > 160514 Urban Policy @ 40% 16 STUDIES IN HUMAN SOCIETY > 1608 Sociology > 160810 Urban Sociology and Community Studies @ 20%
SEO Codes:	87 CONSTRUCTION > 8701 Construction Planning > 870105 Urban Planning @ 100%
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