AbstractsSociology

Selection as an Olympic host city represents the opportunity to showcase one’s culture and city at one of the most highly anticipated international events. Unfortunately, the games’ transitory presence often leaves host cities in Olympic ruins. Post-game challenges are mainly due to the growing size and expense of the Olympics, the difficulty of balancing Olympic architectural expectations with regional needs, and the great population shift on Olympic sites before, during and after the games. We live in a dynamic society, but our buildings are designed to be static. An innovative Olympic planning and design strategy, combining world class design with flexible structures, will leave host cities with a positive Olympic legacy and create a catalyst of positive urban growth for the city. Advisors/Committee Members: McInturf, Michael (Committee Chair).