Developing nations are found to be showing great interest in hosting international sports extravaganzas like Olympics and Common Wealth games.

How advantageous is it to be hosting such events?
What are the major challenges these nations face?

Hosting international sports events is not something that happens every year. they are once-in-a-blue moon events. Obviously, being host to such mega spectacles enables nations to reap great benefits, and there are challenges too.

The primary benefit in my opinion is the international attention a nation enjoys. This happens by way of media cover, participation from nations across the world, tourist attraction, trade and commerce and so goes the list.

Secondly, it is a rare opportunity to showcase the nation in front of the world, and proclaim that the nation is able to take up responsibilities as big as hosting of Olympics or Common Wealth games. For example, South Africa was showing the world community that it was a nation to reckon with by hosting 2010 Football World Cup. Thirdly, there are enormous possibilities for infrastructure development too. This does not happen very often. No wonder, there is great competition from poor nations for such platforms.

However, such platforms do not come cheap. There are huge challenges. How about hosting world famous billion dollar sports celebrities and legends in a place? Their stay, security, mobility, entertainment, safe return etc. are too much for any poor nation. Same way, it is all the more difficult to manage a heterogeneous community of sports fans that may come around to appreciate the event. Their basic needs, like food, transport, hospital, shopping, safe stay, return and the like are nothing but neck wracking responsibilities, I would rather say, challenges.

Concluding it, it is right to say that all the challenges notwithstanding, it really pays to be a host. That is what makes poor nations vie hard to get a chance for hosting international events.

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