Legacies count these days
Athens, not the desired effect
Whether its the 2012 London Olympics, the World Cup in South Africa in 2010 or the World Cross Country championships, its all about the legacy. What will be left behind, once the last caravan departs from any given sporting traveling-circus?
Sure, we hope that a sporting event will take place and leave a lasting effect on an area, town, city or country, but it’s not always the case that the effect is positive. Taking 2004 Olympics as a case in point. These games placed a huge stress on the Greek economy leading up to the opening ceremony, it also meant that they were hurriedly putting together events and venues right up to the very last minute before the flame was lit, and now? Well, it seems that the Athens Olympic legacy has not been one to behold!
Fast forward to Amman in March 2009, and it seems that the World XC champs will be having a lasting effect on the Jordanian region, with a “specialised running centre” being produced to serve the cities’ 3m inhabitants.
Amman is on course to leave a running legacy
These things count, especially for countries such as Jordan, whos GDP of $13.55billion is about a quarter of the annual loss of the UK’s largest bank this last year! So, lets hope that one of the world’s most water-starved countries thrives from one of the world’s biggest annual endurance running events, and the World XC brings good to the region – a good that lasts…
