The role of major events in the creation of social legacy: a case study of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games

Abstract

The importance of major event legacy has become increasingly vital for host cities and their organising partners. Much of the earlier studies in this area focused on tangible legacies such as economic and infrastructural. Contemporary research has seen a shift towards potential intangible legacies including social legacies and how events engage with their communities. The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games is used a case study in order to establish pathways towards the creation of social legacies. This study aims to advance the current literature on the notion of social legacy by conceptualising legacy planning and implementation through the experiences of local policy makers, organisers and coordinators; local community members living within the regeneration area; and, a wider demographic of volunteers involved in Games related programmes. A mixed method approach was employed for this research consisting of interviews, focus groups and an online survey. The data collected was analysed in line with emerging themes. The main themes in this thesis focus upon social impacts relating to individuals, communities, and image, status and sense of place. First, the social impacts for individuals emerging from volunteering, personal development, and an increase in social capital are examined to determine potential routes to create social legacies. Second, an analysis of potential social legacy routes relating to communities examines social impacts of community engagement, post-industrial event-led urban regeneration, the development of social capital, and issues relating to social impacts in communities. Next, social impacts concerning image, status, and sense of place are presented in relation to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games to highlight social legacy creation routes through changes in reputation, civic pride, and sense of identity. Before concluding, stakeholder perspectives are analysed with regard to the creation of a social legacy from hosting the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games with consideration to partnership legacies, knowledge exchange, and future implications.