Supply management for major sport events: The case of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games

In examining the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games (OG), we show that supply management in major sports events (MSEs) has interesting characteristics both in terms of operationalization and resources required. We show that while supply managers must consider local development, they cannot lose sight of efficiency in delivering on other objectives. The multifaceted nature of supply, which includes sponsorship, value in kind, and so forth, requires specific supply management approaches for each stage of the OG management lifecycle. Specifically, supply management differs from other business contexts in three main areas: (a) supplier identification and selection; (b) contract negotiation and the process of acquiring goods; (c) supplier relationship management. Copyright © 2016 ASAC. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.