The 2012 Olympic Games will be one of the most significant events in London's history.
It is already transforming the North-East part of the city, and will undoubtedly be a catalyst for regenerating the capital's self-esteem.
It is vital for everybody concerned that the Olympics are successful. But the tourism industry is often singled out as the principal beneficiary. This study explores the extent to which this is valid.
It looks at sporting events and tourism, the television audience and the impact of hosting the Olympic Games on a city's tourism infrastructure. It ends with studies of Barcelona and Sydney: cities that have had ostensibly good games for tourism.
The primary purpose of this study is to generate debate. It shows that there is no strong link between hosting sporting events and increased tourism. The audiences regularly cited for such events as the Olympics are exaggerated. Attendees at the Games displace normal visitors and scare tourists away for some time. Both Sydney and Barcelona had excellent Olympic Games, but their tourism industries have not significantly benefited.
Thus there appears to be little evidence of any benefit to tourism of hosting an Olympic Games, and considerable evidence of damage. It is vital that the problems experienced by the host cities of past Games be acknowledged and addressed in order to avoid them reoccurring.

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