Incorporating Community Involvement in the Management of Sporting Mega-Events: An Australian Case Study

Common event management styles exhibited by professional management companies, although successful and efficient, can fail to engender interest and support from within the local community where the event is to take place. This article describes the rationale and methods used by one organization to entice this important involvement both in the management and sponsorship of a large-scale event new to the community. Both authors were integral members of the organizing committee for this event. Consequently, this article relies heavily on experience gained from this organization together with their research and teaching into the areas of volunteerism and sport sponsorship. The article concludes by making recommendations for similarly inclined organizations based upon the practical benefits obtained from the event.