One critical area where the rights agenda and MSEs come together is in the distinct urban developments that arise from their hosting. The concept of large-scale urban development is often a strong rationale for hosting MSEs as the resulting regeneration is expected to lead to an improved competitive position for the host locale. Often the implementation of urban development initiatives associated with MSEs use the urgency of the event as a justification to suspend conventional planning procedures and statutes and bypass participatory decision-making processes. This process favours the primacy of privileged stakeholders seeking exclusive economic gains in the decision making-process, while reducing the opportunities for input of local, poorer residents. The resultant gentrification and stratification of urban spaces, including forced evictions, which has further marginalized vulnerable populations in host locales, is of particular concern. This element of the research action will consider the extent to which MSE planning enables the development of more inclusive public spaces, including the role of cultural programmes in enabling greater dialogue in relation to sensitive issues (e.g. racial discrimination, LGBT persecution and the effects of urban development on the most vulnerable). We will work closely with civil society and NGO affiliates to build research evidence that can help them advocate for the introduction of policies and procedures to ensure that the rights of vulnerable populations are not negatively impacted by the construction of MSE venues, transport infrastructures and Games-time changes to the urban realm
Current blog posts on Pathway 3: Legacies of exceptional urban development