Assessing the economic impact of three major sport events in China: the perspective of attendees

This study assesses the economic impact of three major sport events – the Formula One Grand Prix (F1), the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 (ATP), and the Shanghai International Marathon (SIM) – on the host city in China. To that end, the authors estimate the amount of different types of attendees at the events, calculate the total expenditures generated by attendees, assess the new money inflow into the host economy and conduct an economic impact assessment via an input–output model using computer software. The results of this study confirm the notion that major sport events can be used as tools to increase the economic activities of the hosts. Furthermore, the study proposes a useful method of assessing the economic impact of sport events in non-consumer-driven economies, such as China.