Tata Management Training Centre, 1, Mangaldas Road, Opp. Metro House, Pune 411 048, India. E-mail: clakshman@tata.com

Abstract

This study examines the impact of mega-sporting events on business and economic growth by using Porter's competitive advantage diamond framework. Specifically, it comparatively analyses the differential impacts of mega-sporting events in two countries, viz. Japan and India — the main hosts, respectively, of the FIFA World Cup 2002 and the ICC Cricket World Cup 1996. The analysis led to the expectation that there are significant differences in the nature and direction of the impact such mega-sporting events have on the society and economy of these two nations. This qualitative analysis led to the formulation of a proposition anticipating differences in ex ante vs ex post impact between the two countries. The differential impacts of mega-sporting events on social and economic development, growth and infrastructure are explored. The study extends the comparison of these two nations and seeks to generalize the differences across developed vs emerging markets of Asia. Based on emerging markets literature, managerial implications are developed from the perspectives of the different 'players' in question in the respective markets.