Do Major Sporting Events Generate Sustainable Economic Gains? A Multi-Dimensional Analysis of Short-Term Boosts and Long-Term Outcomes in Host Economies

Authors

Sai Varun Menon

Bangalore, Karnataka (India)

Article Information

DOI: 10.51244/IJRSI.2026.1307000037

Subject Category: Economics

Volume/Issue: 13/7 | Page No: 515-523

Publication Timeline

Submitted: 2026-07-04

Accepted: 2026-07-10

Published: 2026-07-24

Abstract

Big sporting events are often said to help grow the economy, bring in tourists, improve infrastructure, and create jobs. There's a debate about whether these benefits last long-term or just give a short-term boost. This study looks at how big sporting events affect India's economy. Right away and in the long run. We want to know if these events help the economy grow sustainably by creating jobs, helping businesses improve infrastructure, getting more people to play sports, finding new talent, and leaving a lasting legacy.
We used an approach of in-depth interviews with six people who are involved in or interested in sports. We analyzed the interviews. Found seven key points: Economic Benefits and Sports Commercialization, Infrastructure and Resource Use, Grassroots Sports Development, Government Support, Talent Identification, Social and Cultural Barriers, and Event Legacy. We compared our findings with existing research on sports economics, tourism, infrastructure, and sports development.
The results show that big sporting events bring short-term economic benefits through job creation, tourism growth, and increased spending. The long-term benefits depend on how well the host economy uses these events to create lasting infrastructure support grassroots sports, and encourages more people to participate. We also found challenges like resource allocation, cricket dominance, infrastructure maintenance concerns, and social barriers that may limit long-term benefits.
The study concludes that big sporting events can lead to economic gains when part of broader development plans that prioritize long-term economic, social, and sporting outcomes. Sustainable success is determined not by immediate financial returns but also by the lasting impact that sporting events have on host economies.

Keywords

Sports, Economic Impact, Sports Development, Sports Commercialization

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References

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