Bidding process for hosting the 2016 World Road Cycling Championship in Norway, Case study

Abstract

The topic relates to the bidding process to host the major sporting event- the 2016 World Road Cycling Championship in Norway. The study has a case-study design with iterative approach. Data were analyzed from the multiple perspectives by conducting the interviews with key experts that have been participating in the bidding process, and document studies. The purpose of the study is to deeply investigate the bidding strategies that three cities-candidates, Bergen, Stavanger and Drammen employed to run for hosting the 2016 Championship and to find out the factors that might be crucial in decision making process when it comes to awarding the host city. Furthermore, the motivational backgrounds of the cities involved in the bidding process and nonmonetary benefits out of it are going to be described likewise. The researcher identified the framework which includes the vital and supported key success factors (KSFs) for bidding process to host the major cycling event. The results confirmed the importance of having a spectacular event that will attract a lot of media’s and spectators attention from all the world, by putting on aside the importance of the funding of the events and sport specific technical expertise. Furthermore, the results coincide with the findings of Ingerson and Westerbeek (2000), that bidding process is cyclical process, in which post-analysis of losing bid and formation of adjusted bid committee for the next bids. The findings might be useful for the cities that have a pursuit and ambition to bid to host the major sporting events, in particular cycling events, and to help them better understand factors that might be critical in creating their bidding strategies.