The Olympic Games: The Benefits Of Hosting The Olympics

118 years ago the first modern Olympic games were held in Athens, with a total of 311 participating athletes from a range of 16 different countries, it is only a fraction of the Olympic Games that we know today (Chalkley, 1999). Not only has the Games grew in number, but it has developed to be a showcase to allow for the host country to demonstrate their physical and economic capabilities. However, the Olympics has received many negative remarks debating whether if it is beneficial to the host. On the contrary, the benefits of hosting the Games outweigh the negatives. Once the Olympic Games conclude it provides the country 's top professional athletes with pristine facilities to train and compete, and they can also be repurposed to be of use

The ability to promote a country provides many benefits for its future; the Olympic games can create new trading possibilities, increased global awareness, and increased gross domestic product growth. For example, China is a country who is still developing in the world and wants to become part of the community, when Beijing hosted the Olympics, the world saw what they were capable of and welcomed them as part of the international community (Sun, 2012). Being part of the international community produces many significant benefits that will help a country grow. When a country wins the bid to host the Games, the global population wonders how that specific country won and question how the experience of hosting this event will turn out (Sun, 2012). In recognition of China, when they won the bid to host people were intrigued and were pleasantly surprised by China 's capabilities and erased the previous degrading associations they had of China before the Olympics were held. As a result, when a country hosts the Olympics it contributes an extra 2.5% gross domestic product growth per person, on average (Chong, 2013). In conclusion, the ability to showcase a country provides the ability to regenerate the image of the country and results in economic and political

In Sydney Australia, after the games finished the area surrounding the park slowly turned into a suburb improving several office buildings, restaurants and parks (Hui, 2014). Furthermore, the Olympic park also brings in twelve million visitors for thousands of different festivals and conferences each year (Hui, 2014). Due to the enhancement of the city, the aftermath of the Olympic games allows the host to create an accumulation of profit and improve the city 's economy. Additionally, a study was conducted and concluded that 46% of travelling Americans were more likely to travel to Australia due to the fact that they have hosted the Olympic Games (Reveler, 2000). By improving a nation 's visual appeal it not only stimulates tourism growth but strengthens the current population. Due to construction of much of the hosting city 's infrastructure, it also creates many jobs and improves the daily lives of locals (Chong, 2013). In Athens, during the construction of the Olympic Park the entire costal zone of Faliro was upgraded, and in Australia, Sydney 's park was built on an area that was once nothing but toxic waste (Furrer, 2002). Not only did the Olympics remove unpleasant views and hazardous landscapes, it also revamped the current tourism locations and