Jaana T. Kari, Esa Mangeloja, Timo Tohmo

Abstract: The Olympic Games are considered the world’s foremost sports competition attracting more than 200 participating nations. This paper analyzes the country-specific successes in the Summer Olympic Games held from 1960–2016. Several studies have documented that macroeconomic factors affect Olympic success. In addition, the host effect has been found to impact the success; however, it is unknown for how many years before and after the home Games the host effect can be detected. We found that the experience as a Games organizer, GDP, population, the country’s share of agricultural land, military expenses, and life expectancy are positively related to Olympic success. Specifically, we found an inverted U-shaped connection between the host effect and Olympic success: being a host country is found to be a positive factor in explaining the number of medals won, not just during the home Games but also eight years before and after organizing the Games. This finding suggests that hosting the Olympic Games should be seen as a long-term fixed investment, which produces success for the organizing countries several years before and after the Games.

Keywords: Sports economics, Olympic Games, hosting Games, macroeconomic factors, success

Citation: Kari, J. T., Mangeloja, E., & Tohmo, T. (2022). Hosting the Olympic Games—Revisiting the connection between hosting the Games and Olympic success. International Journal of Sport Management, 23(3), 201-229.

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