Opinions are divided on whether the organisation of international sport events is beneficial or detrimental to the hosting country. This essay will closely examine two viewpoints before showing my final thought.
Granted, one might argue that the hosting of worldwide sporting events could somewhat spell trouble for the host. Take the 2014 FIFA World Cup, held in Russia, as a pertinent example. This country has invested a substantial amount of money in the employment of workers just for construction of sports stadiums to meet the standard requirements of FIFA. The tremendous cost of the establishment of these competition centres bore a great financial burden on government coffers once the event is over and not to mention, most of the centers have been abandoned for unknown purposes while the government is still allocating national budget to run these sport hubs, thereby leading to budget deficits, tax hikes, or reduced social welfare.
On the other hand, global sport events could open new doors for the host in the tourism sphere. Perhaps one possible instance could be seen in the way these events often appeal to a big influx of international tourists by promoting the cultural legacies of one country, like culinary tradition. With the increasing number of tourists, many citizens can find employment opportunities in the tourism industry, which can help boost the local economy. As a result, the country itself can benefit from the course of promoting its own image, further contributing to the value and growth of sports, consequently, the economy.
In light of the aforementioned consideration, while hosting worldwide sport events could adversely impact a country, especially without sensible limitations by the governments, I firmly believe that it could also pave the way for the prosperity of a country by drawing its own tradition.