LAUSR

Abstract Given the need to use additional locations to host Olympic events beyond the host city, very little research investigates these ‘non-host cities’ and their resultant event legacies. As such, the purpose of this exploratory study was to develop a better understanding of non-host city legacies experienced in relation to the hosting of an edition of the Olympic Games. A case study focusing on Athens, Georgia and the 1996 Olympic Games held in Atlanta, USA was used to illustrate this particular phenomenon of interest. Findings revealed five emergent legacy themes: nostalgia, urban development, volunteering, community engagement, and sport development. Moreover, three major factors (planning approach, external factors, and image) created a different Games experience in Athens and thereby distinguished its legacies from ones created in Atlanta. Challenges and issues associated with providing event legacies in non-host cities are also discussed.