Perspectives of resilience in mega-event studies in the context of urban development : a systematic literature review

Abstract

Mega-events have been considered as a particular form of mega-development projects that can influence the resilience of urban systems and the environment. Although building resilience has become a priority for event management following the creation of event legacy and sustainability, the current application of resilience in mega-event research remains unclear in terms of definitions, issues, and an overarching overview. This paper adopts a systematic literature review, first examining various types, descriptions, and definitions of resilience related to mega-events, such as urban resilience and regional resilience. Difficulties in applying resilience concepts in current mega-event research are highlighted, considering definitional, descriptive, situational, and objective ambiguities. Furthermore, relevant research in the past two decades has gradually revealed the uncertainties and vulnerabilities in mega-events and their development processes in different scenarios. Therefore, this paper summarizes five key themes related to resilience and mega-events: a) urban regeneration and environmental management, b) infrastructure and transport development, c) regional economy and tourism development, d) local community adaptation, and e) safety and security commitment. Given the challenges and risks arising from the intersection of event management and urban development, this paper advocates an overview framework to guide the application of resilience perspectives in mega-event research, providing a theoretical and literature foundation for further exploration of resilience issues in future mega-event research.