David Roberts, Urban Studies Program director and associate professor – teaching stream, examines the disparities between popularity and profit for mega-event hosts. Roberts also discusses some of the uneven social and economic impacts of the tourism- and media-driven investments that host cities and nations tend to make.
"We need to reframe how a world-class city is defined to one that is more liveable, sustainable and just. This will inspire future host cities to pursue this status in a manner that does not increase policing and exacerbate inequalities."
Photo of David Roberts by Jacklyn Atlas.