Economic Impact of the 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games Alaska

Abstract

The 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games invigorated Anchorage Alaska with the largest international sporting event ever staged in Alaska. During the first two weeks of March 2001, the Games attracted visitors from more countries and a greater variety of cultures than any previous event in Alaska. In the year before the Games, the U.S. Federal Government, corporate sponsors, volunteers, and hired employees worked to prepare for the Games. They improved existing sport facilities, facilitated cooperation between businesses and government, acquired needed equipment, planned the sporting events, made travel arrangements, solicited donations, and recruited the multitude of volunteers needed to stage the Games. However, the Games also had substantial impacts on industries such as construction, business services, communications and other industries that usually do not directly receive tourist dollars.