From Mega-Events to Sustainable Destinations: A Decade Scoping Review of Sport Event Legacies
Keywords:
sport event management, tourism legacy, sustainable tourism, destination imageAbstract
The organization of sporting events is no longer judged solely by operational success during the competition itself, but also by the long-term legacy left for the host. This scoping review aims to map and synthesize the most highly cited literature over the past decade (2017–2026). The study adopted the PRISMA protocol and ten articles with the highest number of citations in the SCOPUS database (representing one top article for each year) were extracted and analyzed thematically. The findings indicate a fundamental paradigm shift, from a focus on physical infrastructure development toward the development of intangible legacies. Key findings highlight that small-scale sports events (minor events) are often more effective in fostering social cohesion and sustainable tourism than mega-events. Furthermore, the integration of a sports event portfolio and responsive risk management has proven to be a critical factor in maintaining tourist loyalty and destination reputation amid global uncertainty. This study concludes that meaningful tourism legacies can only be achieved through policies that align long-term goals with the empowerment of local communities. Through this, the resulting synergy will serve as a strategic roadmap for practitioners and academics in designing future-oriented sports events.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Farahiza Razali, Phouvong Phimmakong, Mohd Firdaus Bin Abdullah, Sauqi Sawa Bikalawan, Putri Nur Alifah, Tio Fajar Fitrianto, Jihan Dwi Wulandari
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