Many nations like to host international sporting events, but people are against it. Describe both views and give your own opinion.
Why do nations want to host international sporting carnivals?
1. To arouse enthusiasm for sports among the local populace: promoting healthy lifestyles, and also highlighting sports as a huge occupational choice
2. Create a huge industry with a potential for employment and business
3. Putting the country on the world map prominently. *
a. Increase in tourism
b. Allowing the world to appreciate the native point of view
c. Attracting foreign companies
4. Flaunting prosperity and development.
What are the failings of this practice, or rather why are many cynical of this?
1. Colossal investments go into an event that will just last for a few days, and once the fervor has died down, the locals will be left to pay back the debt.
2. Facilities developed do not only lie unused after the events are over, they also waste a lot of invaluable land resources require a mammoth investment for maintenance
3. The residents of the host cities must bear the pain for at least a decade preceding the event due to large scale construction and restructuring.
4. At the time of events also host city dwellers have a hard time due to restrictions.
5. Pollution levels rise tremendously.
Nowadays, organizing international sports events has become a priority for many nations, but many consider such hosting as unnecessary and a waste of time. I will analyze both the views and share my plausible opinion.
To begin with, hosting international sports events promise bringing in several social benefits. Preparing for such events often improves not only the relations with other nations but also brings people of the nation together. These events promote cultural exchange, when visitors and participants from other countries visit, they interact with the locals creating friendlier relationships. For instance, in 2000 during the Afro-Asian games Nigeria gained global acclaim for its culture and its beautiful countryside. As a result, tourism increased in its country by manifolds over the next few years.
Similarly, these events help promote sporting culture in the country. Youth are generally attracted by observing foreign and their local players compete, which encourages them to embrace their favorite sports as a profession, or at least integrate daily exercise in their daily lifestyle. For instance, in 1982 commonwealth games were held in Asia where many Indians came out to be participants and this has made it widespread all over the country, which has made people follow a healthy lifestyle.
On the other hand, one of the major concerns is the high cost involved in preparing for these several events. Governments spend a lot of money on constructing venues and upgrading facilities, which may impact the budget and cut essential services like healthcare and education.
In hindsight, while international sports can offer a social awareness but they also carry financial risk.the decision should be made after looking at the both long term and short term basis.