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From Ephemeral Planning to Permanent Urbanism: An Urban Planning Theory of Mega-Events

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  • Eva Kassens-Noor

    (School of Planning, Design and Construction & Global Urban Studies, Michigan State University, USA)

Abstract

Mega-events like the Olympic Games are powerful forces that shape cities. In the wake of mega-events, a variety of positive and negative legacies have remained in host cities. In order to bring some theoretical clarity to debates about legacy creation, I introduce the concepts of the mega-event utopia, dystopia and heterotopia. A mega-event utopia is ideal and imaginary urbanism embracing abstract concepts about economies, socio-political systems, spaces, and societies in the host during events. The mega-event utopia (in contrast to other utopian visions other stakeholders may hold) is dictated by the desires of the mega-event owners irrespective of the realities in the event host. In short, a mega-event utopia is the perfect event host from the owner’s perspective. Mega-event utopias are suggested as a theoretical model for the systematic transformation of their host cities. As large-scale events progress as ever more powerful transformers into this century, mega-event dystopias have emerged as negatives of these idealistic utopias. As hybrid post-event landscapes, m ega-event heterotopias manifest the temporary mega-event utopia as legacy imprints into the long-term realities in hosting cities. Using the Olympic utopia as an example of a mega-event utopia, I theorize utopian visions around four urban traits: economy, image, infrastructure and society. Through the concept of the mega-event legacy utopia , I also provide some insight toward the operationalization of the four urban traits for a city’s economic development, local place marketing, urban development, and public participation.

Suggested Citation

  • Eva Kassens-Noor, 2016. "From Ephemeral Planning to Permanent Urbanism: An Urban Planning Theory of Mega-Events," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 1(1), pages 41-54.
    • Handle: RePEc:cog:urbpla:v1:y:2016:i:1:p:41-54
    DOI: 10.17645/up.v1i1.532
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Harry H. Hiller, 2000. "Mega‐events, Urban Boosterism and Growth Strategies: An Analysis of the Objectives and Legitimations of the Cape Town 2004 Olympic Bid," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(2), pages 449-458, June.
    2. Christopher Gaffney, 2013. "Between Discourse and Reality: The Un-Sustainability of Mega-Event Planning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(9), pages 1-15, September.
    3. Scarlett Cornelissen & Urmilla Bob & Kamilla Swart, 2011. "Sport mega-events and their legacies: The 2010 FIFA World Cup," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(3), pages 305-306, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Robin A. Chang, 2021. "How Do Scholars Communicate the ‘Temporary Turn’ in Urban Studies? A Socio-Semiotic Framework," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(1), pages 133-145.

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