School of Planning Design and Construction

U. Bob and E. Kassens-Noor (2012). An indicator framework to assess the legacy impacts of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. African Journal for Physical, Health Education, Recreation and Dance (AJPHERD) September 2012 (Supplement 1), pp. 12-21.

Assessing legacy impacts entails monitoring and evaluating the long-terms effects of mega-events which is a neglected area of research. Most researchers on mega-events focus on projections before and during the hosting of a mega-event. Yet, the hosting of mega- events is generally explained in relation to long-term and enduring impacts which justify the massive investments often associated with hosting mega-events. This is particularly relevant given the considerable investments required from public funds, especially in South Africa that is largely a developmental state with high transformational and developmental demands. The 2010 FIFA World Cup was viewed as a key opportunity to initiate and promote social, economic, environmental and sport legacies (amongst others) in South Africa. It is asserted that legacy evaluations provide a platform for an assessment of lessons derived from a systematic cost-benefit analysis of a mega-event. This article provides a critical examination of how legacy is conceptualised in relation to mega-events, and specifically in the context of South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It then highlights the key legacy impacts (both planned and unplanned) that are likely to be derived from the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Finally, the article suggests a legacy indicator framework for the medium and longer-tern assessment of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Assessing legacy impacts is critically important since the effects of mega-events are increasingly being questioned, specifically in relation to sustainability imperatives. Furthermore, examining long-term outcomes are central to informing future bidding and planning of mega-events.

Chandra, S., E. Kassens-Noor, G. Kuljanin*, J. Vertalka* (2013). A Geographic Analysis of Population Density Thresholds in the Influenza Pandemic of 1918-19.  International Journal of Health Geographics:12(9). doi:10.1186/1476-072X-12-9

This paper introduces a useful analytic tool to the health geographic literature. It illustrates an application of the tool to demonstrate that it can be useful for pandemic awareness and preparedness efforts. Specifically, it estimates a level of population density above which policies to socially distance, redistribute or quarantine populations are likely to be more effective than they are for areas with population densities that lie below the threshold.

Eva Kassens-Noor, Mark Wilson, Sven Müller, Brij Maharaj & Laura Huntoon (2015). Towards a Mega-Event Legacy Framework. Leisure Studies

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The legacy created in pursuit of a mega-event, like the Olympic Games,  FIFA World Cup,  World’s Fair or the Hajj, can provide tremendous opportunities for the host to advance urban development. The challenge faced by cities is how to direct the public and private spending on desired legacies to support their pre-bid  urban agendas. To provide guidance for scholars and event planners interested in using events to further urban development agendas we present a framework for cataloguing the outcomes associated with mega-event planning.

Smith, T., J. Molloy, E. Kassens-Noor,  W. Li and M. Colunga (2013). Developing an Interdisciplinary Heuristic for Multidisciplinary Faculty Writing Groups. In A. E. Geller and M. Eodice (eds) Working with Faculty Writers.  Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press 
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The Olympic Games bring tremendous impacts to host cities, yet little attention has been paid to the variety and novelty in urban technologies that are introduced through the mega-event vehicle. This paper argues that urban transformation associated with the Olympic Games increasingly spans the technological sphere. As a path-breaker the Olympic bid of Tokyo foreshadows a technological revolution that will make the capital of Japan the most advanced urban technology metropolis in the world. This is significant, as this pioneer for the city of the future may yield many valuable insights given the rapid implementation and acceleration of technological innovation proceeding into 2020. Consequently, lessons on how this technology may impact our society can be derived.