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Excellent condition Hardcover. Pages are very crisp; Text/Illustrations are unmarked; Cover is like new; Dust Cover shows only mild traces of handling; Spine & Binding are like new. Polybagged for protection against warehouse/shipping damage Excellent condition Hardcover. Pages are very crisp; Text/Illustrations are unmarked; Cover is like new; Dust Cover shows only mild traces of handling; Spine & Binding are like new. Polybagged for protection against warehouse/shipping damage See less
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Circus Maximus: The Economic Gamble Behind Hosting the Olympics and the World Cup Hardcover – January 14, 2015

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 64 ratings

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The numbers are staggering: China spent $40 billion to host the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing and Russia spent $50 billion for the 2014 Sochi Winter Games. Brazil's total expenditures are thought to have been as much as $20 billion for the World Cup this summer and Qatar, which will be the site of the 2022 World Cup, is estimating that it will spend $200 billion. How did we get here? And is it worth it? Those are among the questions noted sports economist Andrew Zimbalist answers in Circus Maximus: The Economic Gamble Behind Hosting the Olympics and the World Cup. Both the Olympics and the World Cup are touted as major economic boons for the countries that host them, and the competition is fierce to win hosting rights. Developing countries especially see the events as a chance to stand in the world’s spotlight. Circus Maximus traces the path of the Olympic Games and the World Cup from noble sporting events to exhibits of excess. It exposes the hollowness of the claims made by their private industry boosters and government supporters, all illustrated through a series of case studies ripping open the experiences of Barcelona, Sochi, Rio, and London. Zimbalist finds no net economic gains for the countries that have played host to the Olympics or the World Cup. While the wealthy may profit, those in the middle and lower income brackets do not, and Zimbalist predicts more outbursts of political anger like that seen in Brazil surrounding the 2014 World Cup.
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Editorial Reviews

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"You'll be hearing a lot in the coming years about the problems cities face when they consider hosting the Olympic Games and the World Cup. This international issue is thoroughly explored by Andrew Zimbalist in his important new book, Circus Maximus. Zimbalist is the perfect person to delve into this timely topic, located at the intersection of sports and economics."—Christine Brennan, USA Today national sports columnist, ABC News and CNN commentator



"Andrew Zimbalist is a perpetual source of insight on the economics and administration of modern sports. When weighing the very real risks and rewards of hosting major international events, political leaders and informed citizens should carefully consider the information and arguments presented here before rolling the dice."—Bob Costas, Broadcaster, NBC Sports and Major League Baseball Network



"It's time for cities to stop the mega-sports madness. Andrew Zimbalist shows why hosting the Olympics and the World Cup is almost always a boondoggle. Great stuff!"—Richard Florida, Director of the University of Toronto's Martin Prosperity Institute and author of The Rise of the Creative Class



"Andrew Zimbalist documents how the officials who run the international sports organizations that authorize these events profit handsomely, while host cities and nations experience ever-increasing losses, and why before-the-fact claims that such events will deliver long-term economic benefits typically are wildly inaccurate."—Roger Noll, Professor of Economics, Stanford University



"Pssst. Wanna buy a velodrome cheap? Andrew Zimbalist's penetrating examination of how the International Olympic Committee and FIFA have sweet-talked cities and nations into hosting their extravaganzas is absolutely devastating in its ugly detail."—Frank Deford, Author and Commentator



"Circus Maximus shines a bright light on the much-needed discussion about the unconscionable expense surrounding both the bidding process and hosting of the Olympics and the World Cup. The perfectly titled book will leave you gasping for reform. Immediately."—Julie Foudy, ESPN analyst, former U.S. national soccer team captain-winner of two World Cups and three Olympic medals



"Indispensable for anyone who wants to understand the impact of hosting the Olympics."— Evan Horowitz, Boston Globe

About the Author

Andrew Zimbalist is the Robert A. Woods Professor of Economics at Smith College. He is the author of three Brookings Institition Press titles: Sports, Jobs, and Taxes: The Economic Impact of Sports Teams and Stadiums (1997); May The Best Team Win: Baseball Economics and Public Policy (2003); and National Pastime: How Americans Play Baseball and the Rest of the World Plays Soccer (2005).

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0815726511
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Brookings Institution Press; First Edition (January 14, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 175 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780815726517
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0815726517
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 64 ratings

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Andrew S. Zimbalist
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Biographical Information about Andrew Zimbalist

Andrew Zimbalist is the Robert A. Woods Professor of Economics at Smith College, where he has been in the Economics Department since 1974. He received his B.A. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in 1969 and his M.A. and Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1972 and 1974 respectively. He has consulted in Cuba and Latin America for the United Nations Development Program, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and numerous companies, and has consulted in the sports industry for players' associations, cities, companies, and leagues. He has published several dozen articles and twenty-five books, including Baseball and Billions (1992), Sports, Jobs and Taxes (1997), Unpaid Professionals: Commercialism and Conflict in Big-time College Sports (1999), The Economics of Sport, I & II (2001), May the Best Team Win: Baseball Economics and Public Policy (2003), National Pastime: How Americans Play Baseball and the Rest of the World Plays Soccer (with Stefan Szymanski) (2005), In the Best Interests of Baseball? The Revolutionary Reign of Bud Selig (2006), The Bottom Line: Observations and Arguments on the Sports Business (2006), Equal Play: Title IX and Social Change (with Nancy Hogshead-Makar) (2007), Circling the Bases: Essays on the Challenges and Prospects of the Sports Industry (2010), International Handbook on the Economics of Mega Sporting Events (with Wolfgang Maennig) (2012), The Sabermetric Revolution: Assessing the Growth of Analytics on Baseball (with Ben Baumer) (2014), Circus Maximus: The Economic Gamble Behind Hosting the Olympics and the World Cup, (2016), Unwinding Madness: What Went Wrong with College Sports and How to Fix It, (with Donna Lopiano and Gerry Gurney) (January 2017), and No Boston Olympics: How and Why Smart Cities Are Passing on the Torch (with Chris Dempsey) (March 2017). He is currently working on a book on the Rio Olympics of 2016.

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4.3 out of 5 stars
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Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and understand. They appreciate the detailed explanations and humor used to explain the economic impact of sporting events. The writing quality is described as good, though some readers feel it could be improved.

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7 customers mention "Readability"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to understand and engaging. They appreciate the details, facts, and figures that help them understand the story.

"This is a very interesting book. It concerns the gamble that's taken by governments with the World Cup and the Olympic Games...." Read more

"This book is fantastic...." Read more

"A good story" Read more

"...not so fast. Zimbalist does a great job dispelling those myths. Great Book, easy to understand and drives the point home with details, facts and..." Read more

3 customers mention "Economics"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and well-written. It provides useful economic explanations and analyses of sporting events' financial impact, making it a must-read for economists and event planners.

"...But it's worse than that. Andrew Zimbalist uses facts, pertinent economic explanations, humor and irony to explain how host cities are nearly all..." Read more

"Real analytics proving that big events like the Olympics are an economical bust. Well written. A must read for economists and event planners." Read more

"Informative Read on Fiscal Impact of Sporting Events..." Read more

3 customers mention "Writing quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing quality good for economists and event planners. However, some reviewers feel the story is poorly written.

"This is an extremely well written book that relentlessly and completely gives the lie to the oft-spoken idea that large sporting events like the..." Read more

"...Well written. A must read for economists and event planners." Read more

"Good story poorly written..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2015
    This is an extremely well written book that relentlessly and completely gives the lie to the oft-spoken idea that large sporting events like the Olympics and World Cup are economic gold mines for host cities or countries. Simply put, they aren't. But it's worse than that. Andrew Zimbalist uses facts, pertinent economic explanations, humor and irony to explain how host cities are nearly all left with economic disasters after the Olympics and World Cup leave town, taking most of the financial gain with them. The book showcases the sometimes insane euphoria, and big cash, that goes into bidding for world class sporting events with promises of increased tourism during the games that extends after the games, increased cache and economic preimenance that go along with hosting such events.

    Zimbalist does a fantastic job of explaining that the Olympic Games don't even bring more tourists to a city while they are happening, let alone for years afterward. London actually had fewer tourists in the Summer of 2012. As for the supposed cache attached to host cities, this book explains it can all go bad if there is a terrorist attack, protests, or, as in Brazil, deaths associated with the construction of venues.

    And the book showcases how the 'legacy' of hosting these events can often turn into a public relations nightmare when, like Athens and Beijing there are rotting stadiums that scar the landscape, or, like Sochi, you leave an impression of an infrastructure mess.

    And for those cities who eagerly jump at the chance for a bid, they often cite the 1984 Olympic Games in LA (which turned a modest profit) and the 1992 Barcelona Games, (which excellerated that city's rise as a city of consequence), Zimbalist clearly why those two cities are singular events, not easily reproduced.

    I love the Olympics. This book tells another side of the story beyond the athletic drama of the games. After reading this book, I hope my city never even bids for an Olympics.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2017
    This is a very interesting book. It concerns the gamble that's taken by governments with the World Cup and the Olympic Games. It took Montreal thirty years before it paid off its debt from the Olympics. They aren't an investment but should rather be seen more as an expenditure for public approval. After all everybody loves a party until the bill arrives.
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2015
    Through the use of extensive facts and data Zimbalist makes the case that the Olympic committees and promoters are only concerned with their own profit and power. Everyone in Massachusetts who will vote on soliciting the forthcoming Olympic bid should read this book. If history is a guide it will be your tax dollars making up the cost overruns despite the promises that not a single tax dollar will be used.

    I feel sorry for the people of Brazil. The book details the heavy price they paid for hosting the 2014 World Cup games. Now they are on the path for another costly venture with the upcoming Olympics. Journalists are reporting problems unfolding just as Zimbalist cited in this book.
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2015
    A readers digest summary of Zimbalist's scholarly research on the topic. Could have appeal to a lay audience but academics would be better off reading the articles.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2017
    This book is fantastic. If you've ever been skeptical of the various claims made by Olympic advocates (e.g., it'll help the local economy, etc), then this book is for you. Zimbalist also looks at the World Cup's impact -- or lack thereof -- on host cities.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2016
    A good story
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2015
    We always hear that hosting a world wide sporting event will be great for our local economy etc. not so fast. Zimbalist does a great job dispelling those myths. Great Book, easy to understand and drives the point home with details, facts and figures
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2015
    Very good job on the waste and corruption of these big time over the top events.
    It seems only the most repressive regimes now want to spend billions on an event where the ROI is basically zero!

Top reviews from other countries

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  • daniel Froese
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great read
    Reviewed in Canada on February 18, 2017
    A very interesting and eye opening read. I would recommend this book to those interested in sport and economics. A well written book.
  • Airton T Stein
    4.0 out of 5 stars Circus maximus
    Reviewed in Brazil on July 15, 2016
    It is a very interesting overview on the impact of megaevents in countries, specially the emerging ones, such as Brazil.
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A 180° change of mind
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 6, 2016
    The information presented on this book clearly made me think about the reality of these events. I recommend this book to help expand your mind. And the next time you see an Olympic games or world cup you will never see them the same way
  • Client d'Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Très bon livre
    Reviewed in France on April 16, 2016
    Livre très bien écrit et documenté, d'une grande qualité.
    Le livre permet de développer un réel esprit critique vis-à-vis du monde du sport et de ses abus !
  • JB
    4.0 out of 5 stars A most interesting read...
    Reviewed in Canada on October 15, 2018
    This is an interesting book in its own right, but particularly for citizens of cities contemplating hosting an Olympics or World Cup.

    I happen to live in Calgary, Canada, currently contemplating a bid to host the 2026 Winter Olympics, 38 years after hosting the 1988 games. Even though the bid contemplates re-furbishing and re-using most of the '88 facilities, the costs remain enormous, and would most likely be shouldered by Calgary taxpayers. We rescheduled to vote in a public referendum on the matter in mid-November.

    I lived here in '88 too, and I think most Calgarians view the '88 Games as a success and a a real benefit to the city. What this book does is strip away the hype and put the real costs and supposed benefits on the table, a very useful exercise, allowing at the very least for informed decision making.