Introduction to the Case Studies of Mega-Events in Heritage-Rich Cities

In the past, many cities primarily used mega-events to support capital investments and boost tourism while harnessing their competitiveness on a global scale. Until recently, the emphasis has been placed by and large on the creation of new infrastructural components, such as new stadiums, theatres and other public facilities to host events. In many instances today, on the contrary, mega-event organizers have opted for the re-use of existing facilities, the conversion of inner-city areas and the regeneration of neighborhoods (Bianchini et al., 2013). For heritage-rich European cities, this shift in paradigm represents both an opportunity and a threat. The HOMEE project has investigated five past events and consolidated knowledge for dealing with the emerging opportunities and threats in planning and implementing mega-events in heritage-rich cities. The project addresses complex questions such as: What are the main blind spots in our current understanding of the relationships between cultural heritage and megaevent policies? How do preservation and conservation policies deal with the threats and opportunities generated by mega-events in heritage-rich European cities? Do key stakeholders in charge of mega-events and preservation policies have relevant operational knowledge and planning tools at their disposal? How to improve such tools and who should be involved in these decision–making processes?