The gold of Olympia. Costs, benefits and legacy of Rome 1960

Journal title IMPRESE E STORIA
Author/s Fernando Salsano
Publishing Year 2026 Issue 2024/50
Language Italian Pages 31 P. 48-78 File size 240 KB
DOI 10.3280/ISTO2024-050003
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The Games of the 17th Olympiad, the only summer edition held in Italy, were a transitional stage in the process of commercialisation of mega sports events. For the first time, competitions were broadcast live on television, companies began to take a role in the organisation, and infrastructural interventions were aimed at extensive urban renewal. The article focuses on some relevant economic aspects: the distribution of expenses among the different institutional actors, the involvement of businesses, the strategies adopted to maximise revenue, the impact on the local economy, and the functionality and longevity of the infrastructures built for the occasion. The aim is to provide an initial balance of the costs, benefits and legacy of Rome 1960, also to offer new elements to the debate on the economic impact and financial and environmental sustainability of the Olympics.

Keywords: Mega-events; Olympic Games; Rome 1960; Sport industry; Urban Economy

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Fernando Salsano, L’oro di Olimpia. Costi, benefici ed eredità di Roma 1960 in "IMPRESE E STORIA" 50/2024, pp 48-78, DOI: 10.3280/ISTO2024-050003