Whether to organize major international sports has been stirring quite a debate. While some say that they lead to a waste of resources, others support such competitions. This essay will first closely examine both views, before concluding that I side with the latter.
On the one hand, opponents to holding global sporting events have good grounds. From the perspective of organizing countries, being chosen to host means they have to allocate significant amounts of time and budget for preparations. These include investing in sports infrastructure and extensive marketing campaigns to promote the competitions, which can put a strain on a nation’s finances, especially when it has to prioritize other needs such as education and healthcare. In addition to the financial burden, the newly erected facilities can serve no purpose other than catering to the vent, and will likely fall out of use later. As for participating countries, sending athletes abroad to compete can also incur substantial costs. Given that local sports competitions and events are available, it seems reasonable for some to wonder about the justifiability of these expenses.
However, this way of thinking overlooks the valuable benefits that international sports events bring to both the organizers and the participants. The hosting nations enjoy an influx of visitors, which promotes the tourism industry. These countries can also capitalize on such opportunities to popularize their images globally, allowing cultural and social aspects to become more widespread. While it is true that a great deal of money has to be spent on holding a global sports event, the government can attract financial sponsorship from brands which want to increase their reputation. For example, Emirates Airlines sponsored the World Cup 2017 so that it could integrate its logo on the uniforms of players, as well as having commercials shown during break time. The investment in sports infrastructure can also be utilized for training professional athletes or public usage such as a concert. For the countries that participate, competition in sports should not be limited within their boundaries. Winning a category in an international event brings an immeasurable sense of pride, allowing the winners and the winning countries to be recognized globally. It is this spirit of sportsmanship that makes holding international sports events necessary to cater a vast majority of sports lovers around the world, regardless of geographical borders.
In conclusion, while acknowledging the cost and time required to organize international sporting events, I believe the benefits are no more significant. The impact on the tourism industry of the host countries, the opportunities to promote their images and the spread of sportsmanship all tip the balance in favor of the supporters.