2008 BEIJING OLYMPICS

2008 Beijing Olympics: Social and Cultural Impact

Executive summary

This paper will undertake a leverage analysis of mega-events in the context of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. A leverage analysis apparently different from an impact analysis; it focuses on how to maximize the potential positive impacts and minimize the negative impacts for an event that will be held in the future. To analyze the circumstance of the Beijing Olympics that are amendable to leveraging, the research methodology employed will be empirical with method of semi-structured in-depth interviews with the government officials, tourism industry people and the local community members in Beijing. This research conducted a leveraging analysis from social and cultural. From each perspective, angles would be investigated: identifying the potential impacts of 2008 Olympics; determining the leveraging activities for the potential impacts; uncovering the opportunities for leveraging the potential impacts, and exploring the challenges in leveraging the potential impacts. Because there is not any existing theory on a leverage analysis in the context of Beijing Olympic Games, this research will be conducted with the guidance of “grounded theory”. The findings of this research will contribute to the event studies and the leveraging studies.

2008 Beijing Olympics Social and Cultural Impact

Introduction

On 13 July 2001, Beijing's application convinced the members of the 112th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session held in Moscow, and won the right to host the Summer Games of the XXIX Olympiad in 2008. Upon hearing the news, the entire capital and, indeed, the whole of China was permeated with a festival atmosphere. Many, in a jubilant mood, spontaneously celebrated the Olympic triumph. Obviously, the passing of six years has done nothing to dim their memories of that exciting moment. But why were they so excited about Beijing's successful bid to host the 2008 Summer Olympic Games? Besides the significance this event has in terms of world peace and friendship, will the hosting of the Olympic Games bring any practical or tangible benefits to Beijing and its local community? 2008 Beijing Olympics Social and Cultural Impact on nation? This research intends to answer these questions.

The 2008 Olympic games

The votes were presumably cast in line with the recommendation of the IOC Evaluation Commission that “a Beijing Games would leave a unique legacy (as distinct from sport stadiums and gold medals) to China and to sports”. The Commission made it clear that members had confidence that Beijing could organize “an excellent Games”. Anticipating the Games to be a positive showcase of a rising China, in both economic and political terms, the 2008 Olympic Games' organizers upgraded the expectations of the IOC Evaluation Commission from an “excellent” to the “best ever” Games. It was to be further specified as a “green Olympics”, a “people's Olympics” and a “hi-tech Olympics”, which would be the three themes of the 2008 Olympic Games(BOCOG 2003).

Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

The Olympic Games provided an opportunity for the world to learn more about China and for China to learn more about the ...