Sessions

This proposed session focuses on the dynamics existing between mega events and territorialisation processes in the construction of both new tourist supply chains, as well as innovative regeneration paradigms.  Mega events are rhetorically celebrated as outstanding factors in the promotion and development of destinations thanks to their ability to accelerate the process of territorial redevelopment and to attract international tourist flows, thus enhancing the image of the hosting place. All the same, the relaunch policies of tourist destinations include mega-events that produce territory through processes of de-territorialisation and re-territorialisation (Dansero, Mela 2006), reifying areas often already under environmental, social and economic pressure. In particular some areas, such as the mountain, may be subjected to hydrogeological risk, climate change and overtourism processes and therefore being fragile and vulnerable (Dematteis 2018; Varotto 2020). The mega event space overlaps with the territory of the host cities and areas and shares places, structures and functions while redefining its position and meaning in local strategies (Morazzoni, Pecorelli, 2022). Nevertheless, in order to leave a significant legacy, they should be really sustainable (Dansero et alii, 2015).

The session – in collaboration with the PRIN research group MIND (Mountains INsiDe the Mountain. Narratives, dynamics and development paths: new readings) – invites to discuss methodological. conceptual, empirical, and critically driven contributions that cover the following aspects related to mega events:

-        sustainability, mega events practices;

-        tourism development, desire for regeneration, legacy;

-        energetic crisis, climate change and fragile territories;

-        local community and conflicts.

References

Dansero E., Mela A., “Per una teoria del ruolo dei grandi eventi nei processi di territorializzazione”, in Proceedings of the XXVII Conferenza Italiana di Scienze Regionali, Pisa, Italy, 2006, pp. 12-14.

Dansero E., Mela A., Rossignolo C., “Legacies of Turin 2006 eight years on: Theories on territorialization in the aftermath of the Olympic Games”, in Viehoff V., Poynter G. (edt), Mega Event Cities: Urban legacies of global sport events, London, Routledge, 2015, pp. 99-107.

Dematteis G., “La metro-montagna di fronte alle sfide globali. Riflessioni a partire dal caso di Torino”, in Journal of Alpine Research / Revue de géographie alpine, 106/2, 2018 (http://journals.openedition.org/rga/4318).

Morazzoni M., Pecorelli V., “La montagna come “territorio fragile”: quale sostenibilità per i territori interessati dalle Olimpiadi Milano-Cortina 2026? Lo studio di caso di Cortina d’Ampezzo”, in Bollettino della Società Geografica, Roma, 14, 5 (2), 2022.

Varotto M., Montagne di mezzo. Una nuova geografia, Torino, Einaudi, 2020. The session will be held in English. Please note slides and/or video presentations are welcomed.