Author: Huang, Longchuan Cherry
Title: Resident perceptions on 2008 Beijing Olympic Games
Degree: M.Sc.
Year: 2003
Subject: Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations
Olympic Games (29th : 2008 : Beijing, China)
Social surveys -- China -- Beijing
Department: School of Hotel and Tourism Management
Pages: viii, 96 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm
Language: English
Abstract: The rationale for this research is based on the linkage between residents' perceptions of the 2008 Olympic games in the host region - Beijing. It is a widely apprehended and held belief that mega-events give impetus to the local economy; bring the region to the world; promote the local tourism and business bustling. These are the reasons why increasing private and public sectors support mega-events based economic development strategies. Important positive impacts associated with staging of a mega-event like the Olympics are including the development of infrastructure and facilities, entertainment and social opportunities, and a sense of pride generated by playing host to a major event, directly benefit the local population. However, it is also clear that there are outcomes of staging an Olympic Games that have some negative impacts on the local population. Any mega-event attracting large numbers of visitors to a relatively small area is likely to create some problems with noise, traffic, crowding and disruption. There are also likely to be other costs specific to the Games or its implementation. While some of the costs and benefits of mega-event may affect the whole community, others tend to impact on certain subgroups of the population. For example, residents who are involved in tourism may receive a direct economic benefit, and those who have a particular interest in some impacts. Likewise, some subgroups are more affected than others by the negative impacts, particularly those living (or conducting their routine activities) within or neighboring the focal point of the Games. This dissertation examines the ways in which local residents react to the staging of a major sporting event - the Olympics within their community. Social representations are the ways in which people perceive various phenomena around them. By identifying these different 'patterns' of perceptions, and profiling the subgroups of the community who held them, it is possible to gain a better understanding of both the positive and negative impacts of events, and how they differentially affect the quality of life of local residents. This study has identified several subgroups in the host population based on their different levels of perceptions on various impacts of holding 2008 Olympic Games. Then, the characteristics of these subgroups were profiled based on several independent variables - proximity, contact, length of residence, involvement in tourism and demographic figures etc. Further, the relationships were examined using chi-square contingency table analysis, to see if there is significant relationship between respective variable with the cluster membership.
Rights: All rights reserved
Access: restricted access

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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/2976