0000000000873287
AUTHOR
Pierre Lienhard
Conclusion and Future
After being awarded the EURO 2008, Switzerland faced several challenges related to hosting such a mega sport event. The research has explored how knowledge transfer and the use of certain management tools were important in Switzerland’s organization of fifteen matches and to achieving a happy and prosperous football festival in Switzerland.
Interpretation and Discussion of the Results
Reflecting both interviews as well as the different topics, it can be said that the terms sustainability and legacy have become important issues. Even though UEFA did not regulate aspects of sustainability in their bid requirements for the EURO 2008, certain sustainability initiatives and processes did evolve from 2002 until the realization of the tournament in 2008. Although UEFA was positively influenced by the IOC and its sustainability and legacy concepts, it can be questioned that other subjects, like having a good, professionally organized event are still more important than prioritizing and implementing the theme of legacy.
Concepts and Framework
Alongside defining the term ‘event’, the relevant literature has developed five characteristics for distinguishing events: (1) the event schedule, (2) the event strategy, (3) the event period, (4) the event content and (5) the event size (Preuss et al., 2009, 26). While singular events in the area of art and culture (including historical jubilee celebrations and concerts) are considered as being of vital importance, singular events in sports are rather an exception and comparatively limited (ibid.) Events in the area of sport are typically considered as regularly held events within an event series (Kurscheidt, 2006). It is however to be differentiated between guest-events being held from a …