Leveraging mega-events beyond the host nation: a case study of the 2010 FIFA World Cup African Legacy Programme in Cameroon and Nigeria

This article focuses on mega-event leveraging, specifically on experiences in the developing context. While most large-scale sporting events such as the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cups have been traditionally hosted in the more affluent, developed and industrialised nations; the hosting of the first-ever FIFA World Cup in South Africa in 2010 provided new research opportunities to examine the effects of such events when they are hosted in developing contexts. The article departs from the premise that there is no known case study that has focused on the leveraging of mega-events beyond the host nation and this is an additional contribution to the growing literature on mega-event legacy impacts. The continental orientation (‘African World Cup’) accorded to the 2010 FIFA event by host nation South Africa, and the subsequent leveraging of the event across the African continent raises the importance of questioning the post-event legacies experienced beyond the host nation. A qualitative and quantitative methodology, within a case study design, was undertaken in two case study countries (Cameroon and Nigeria). Face-to-face interviews were conducted with relevant stakeholders and resource persons using a structured questionnaire. The results provide evidence that these countries attempted to maximise the leveraging opportunity presented by the mega-event. In addition, while the leveraging efforts yielded some positive benefits in terms of tourism and sport-related infrastructure, several challenges were experienced by countries in implementing legacy-related projects linked to the African Legacy Programme and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.