Events, Sustainability, and Regional Growth: Enhancing Experiences, Assessing Impacts

Project summary

The main objective of this research is to assess the sustainability, economic impact on the region and marketing effectiveness of the World Weightlifting Championship. Additionally, it aims to analyze visitor experiences, athlete experiences and performance to provide insights for optimizing event planning and ensuring long-term sustainability. We have organized our project into three work packages (WP), with the following sub-objectives: WP1: 1) To understand and audit the sustainability measures taken along the value chain to ensure responsible consumption, 2) To understand the economic impacts on the community and regional buisnesses. WP2: Identify distincts visitors segments, their motivation, and factors affecting their experiences during the event. WP3: Investigate how the athletes experience the sport event and how they plan for optimal performance. The insights into the sustainability of event management, visitor experience, and athlete performance, will result in a comprehensive and innovative framework for understanding the interconnected dynamics that transform sporting events. The framework can guide future organizers, stakeholders and local businesses to tailor services and practices in ways that increases sustainability and efficiency, reduces cost, and maximizes regional economic benefits. Reviewing the sustainability factors can be applied across other types of events, and can benefit tourism and hospitality sectors beyond the Førde VM. The innovative and interdisciplinary project will provide a common ground for sharing knowledge between the diverse organizers, thereby enhancing the quality and value of future large events in the region. This has the potential to enhance Vestlandet's appeal as a sustainable and international event destination, positively impacting the travel industry, local businesses and communities.