Coventry to become focal point of Mega-Events research

Fresh from experience of the World Cup, researchers from Brazil will be joining those from the UK, South Africa and the USA to examine the impact of sporting and cultural mega-events.

As part of the €850,000 4-year CARNiVAL project funded by the EC and led by Coventry University, over 30 researchers from Rio de Janerio, Cape Town and North Carolina be staying in Coventry for between 1-3 months to conduct research.

Experts will attend the European Association of Sport Management Conference hosted by Coventry University on the 9-12th September, providing insight into the latest thinking from across Europe. Following this they will carry out their own research in the UK looking at issues such as: the impact of events on public health, urban renewal and national identity. Dr Samantha Gorse, the Coordinator of the CARNiVAL programme notes:

"This is quite a unique opportunity. Researchers from Brazil looking at the World Cup will be able to compare notes with UK researchers looking at the London Olympics & Paralympics and the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. This creates an opportunity to influence thinking in the run up to the Rio de Janeiro, 2016, Durban's bid for the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and a potential bid by South Africa for the 2024 Olympic Games.

What is critical here is the ability to gain a solid comparison of different national and cultural approaches to the hosting of these enormously costly events and to take a long-term perspective on what works and what doesn’t. From this standpoint the North American and South African perspectives will be essential."

Researchers will stay in Coventry to November, when a number will travel on to Munich, Germany the final partner in the project.