Emerging Economies and Sport Mega-Events

Most studies on SMEs have focused primarily on first-order events hosted in the global north and/or BRICS economies. Second- and third-order SMEs have received significantly less attention despite their popularity and rise in emerging economies. This chapter provides context for understanding what constitutes an emerging economy and the terms scholars have used to describe less-developed nations. It also describes Chile’s path to development and its aspirations for hosting SMEs. Because leaders of emerging economies are increasingly interested in hosting mega-events to gain international visibility, we explore the role of nation branding and soft power. This chapter helps the reader to understand the meaning of emerging economies and how this factors into the case of the 2014 South American Games in Santiago.