Article: Negotiating the legacy-leverage nexus: the contribution of major sports events to regional development Journal: International Journal of Tourism Policy (IJTP) 2026 Vol.16 No.7 pp.1 - 16 Abstract: This paper examines how major sport events can be integrated into regional development agendas by analysing the legacy initiative created around the 2019 Alpine and Biathlon World Championships in Jämtland, Sweden. Although presented as a legacy program, research indicates that long-term value is more effectively generated through strategic leverage. This case study draws on a framework analysis of a regional development strategy and a focus group with key stakeholders to assess, first, how effective the program was as a legacy initiative, and second, what reframing it in terms of strategic leverage would have entailed. Findings show that the program fostered business networking and collaboration between national sport federations, but lacked measurable outcomes, strategic anchoring, and public-sector leadership. The study contributes to debates on legacy vs. leverage by highlighting the importance of early policy alignment and governance structures that embed events within long-term regional objectives. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Negotiating the legacy-leverage nexus: the contribution of major sports events to regional development

Authors: Martin Wallstam; Robert Pettersson; Dimitri Ioannides

Addresses: Department of Economics, Geography, Law and Tourism, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, 83125, Sweden ' Department of Economics, Geography, Law and Tourism, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, 83125, Sweden ' Department of Economics, Geography, Law and Tourism, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, 83125, Sweden

Abstract: This paper examines how major sport events can be integrated into regional development agendas by analysing the legacy initiative created around the 2019 Alpine and Biathlon World Championships in Jämtland, Sweden. Although presented as a legacy program, research indicates that long-term value is more effectively generated through strategic leverage. This case study draws on a framework analysis of a regional development strategy and a focus group with key stakeholders to assess, first, how effective the program was as a legacy initiative, and second, what reframing it in terms of strategic leverage would have entailed. Findings show that the program fostered business networking and collaboration between national sport federations, but lacked measurable outcomes, strategic anchoring, and public-sector leadership. The study contributes to debates on legacy vs. leverage by highlighting the importance of early policy alignment and governance structures that embed events within long-term regional objectives.

Keywords: event management; event legacy; event leverage; strategic event leverage; regional development; event portfolio; major sporting events; sport events; event impacts.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTP.2026.152867

International Journal of Tourism Policy, 2026 Vol.16 No.7, pp.1 - 16

Received: 05 Sep 2025
Accepted: 05 Dec 2025
Published online: 13 Apr 2026 *

Title: Negotiating the legacy-leverage nexus: the contribution of major sports events to regional development

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