Taking the 19th Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China in 2023 as an example, this study applied urban competitiveness theory to explore the impact of large-scale sports event industries on urban competitiveness. It was found that the Asian Games had positive impacts on Hangzhou in terms of the economy, society, culture and environment. At the economic level, not only did the Asian Games directly promote the development of the tourism, catering, accommodation and retail sectors, but it also helped improve Hangzhou's infrastructure. At the social level, the Asian Games not only enhanced the cohesion of the citizens and their sense of urban identity, but also promoted the social harmony and progress of Hangzhou through the improvement of public facilities and urban management. As for cultural impact, the Asian Games demonstrated Hangzhou's rich cultural heritage and strong cultural soft power, and stimulated the development of cultural industry, which both helped enhance Hangzhou's international image. At the environmental level, the event has enabled Hangzhou to vigorously promote urban greening projects, improve urban ecological environment, and promote the city's continuous advance on the path of ecological friendliness and sustainable development. This case study of the Hangzhou Asian Games demonstrated the positive role of the sports events industry in enhancing the competitiveness of cities and promoting sustainable urban development.

Li Yuanhui, Yue Min. A Study on the Influence of Sports Event Industry on Urban Competitiveness under Urban Competitiveness Theory—Taking the 19th Hangzhou Asian Games as an Example. Frontiers in Sport Research (2024) Vol. 6, Issue 4: 1-8. https://doi.org/10.25236/FSR.2024.060401.

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