Quality of Life, Event Impacts, and Mega-Event Support among South African Residents before and after the 2010 FIFA World Cup

TLDR

Research has rarely examined whether perceived quality of life serves as an exchange benefit that encourages resident support for mega‑events. The study investigates how the 2010 FIFA World Cup affected South African residents’ perceived quality of life and their support for the event. Data were collected from 3,789 residents in five host cities three months before and eight months after the World Cup. Results show that before the event, political, psychological, and social impacts influenced perceived quality of life and mediated support, whereas after the event, economic impacts became the key predictor of quality of life.

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to explore the role of mega-event impacts on perceived satisfaction with quality of life and support among South African residents before and after the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Limited research has empirically tested whether quality of life (QOL) is perceived as an exchange benefit that facilitates resident support of mega-events. Intercept data were collected from residents in five host cities three months before (March 2010) and eight months after (March 2011) the event (N = 3,789). Results indicate significant differences in perceived impacts before and after the event. Before the event, the influence of political impacts, psychological impacts, and social benefits on perceived QOL was significant, while QOL mediated the relationships between political, psychological, and social benefit impacts and resident support. After the event, economic impacts emerged as a significant predictor of QOL in contrast to the preevent sample.