Cities bidding for and potentially hosting big sporting events can benefit from transport and tourism development and investments that otherwise would not be possible. The example of the Athens Olympics in 2004, which left an advanced and high-quality transport system implemented in record timefor Greece, is clear. Tourism transport facilities also benefited by the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. In London too, several transport and tourism improvements are anticipated for the 2012 Olympics currently in preparation.In all cases, there is a need for such investments to be safeguarded for future use after the end of the event they are aimed to serve initially. After reviewing the experience of the Athens 2004 Olympics transport infrastructure and facilities four years on (ex-post), and the preparations for the London 2012 Olympic Games in terms of tourism transport planned facilities (ex-ante) and draws some comparisons between the two cities and lessons for other cities that aim to host similar big sporting events. The caseof the Mediterranean Games to be held in Volos and Larisa, Greece in June2013 will be assessed on the basis of similar events in medium-size cities. The Mediterranean Games like a small Olympics, given that they include several games at various venues simultaneously. A combined transport and tourism development strategy is put forward in order to capitalise on the expected benefits of the 2013 Mediterranean Games in the city of Volos. In particular, the case for a new light tramway system linking several sport venues in Volos urban area and a suburban railway linking Volos, the Mediterranean Village and the city of Larisa is assessed. Conclusions are drawnon how similar cities can exploit the benefits and the legacy of hosting big sporting events for their transport networks and tourism development. For the covering abstract see ITRD E145999
Samenvatting