Abstract

JOURNAL OF URBAN TECHNOLOGY 2018, VOL. 25, NO. 3, 27–28 https://doi.org/10.1080/10630732.2018.1503467 Special Section: Mega Events and the Technology of Spectacle Mark Wilson Professor and Program Director, Urban & Regional Planning, School of Planning, Design and Construction, Michigan State University Mega events are powerful forces in the remaking and reshaping of cities and urban life. These large-scale events take many different forms, including sports (Olympics, FIFA World Cup, Pan American Games, Super Bowl), culture (World’s Fairs, Europe’s Capitals of Culture), and religion (the Hajj, Kumbh Mela, World Youth Day). The global focus on one city or country for a specific event prompts use of the event for political, social, business, and urban redevelopment purposes. Currently, there are over 150 cities consid- ering a mega event bid, so rather than focus on the few winning host cities, it is important to take a broader perspective to consider the many cities actively considering or preparing for a major event. The papers in this special section focus on the technological dimensions of these events, factors that are often ignored or hidden. The excitement, prestige, and glamour of the event brings together many interests that wish to use it to achieve goals of profit,