Olympics

Hosting an Olympic Games has a major impact on the city and its people. I compared the Barcelona 1992 and Athens 2004 approaches to "legacy," the lasting impacts of a Games. I grouped my comparison into three categories : Economic, Urban and Environmental Impacts, and Global and Social Identity. In Olympic circles, few cities live up to the long-term planning standard set by Barcelona, especially in urban regeneration. However, most scholars agree that Athens did not plan for the post-Games period as effectively as they could have. Barcelona had better organization and cooperation, while the Athens organizers and the government disagreed on various issues. Though Athens wanted to leave a positive legacy and did in many ways, they were not as focused on that aspect. Athens shined in the concept of "heritage," which encompasses bringing the past into the present as a "legacy." Because of their h istory, they were able to bring historical meaning to their Games.