Table of ContentsSummaryIntroductionLiterature ReviewConclusionSummaryThe following work aims to describe the social and economic advantages and disadvantages of the Olympic Games held in China. The impact of this event organized in China was very significant. It provided a means of creating jobs, improving medical and housing infrastructure as well as roads and public transportation systems. China has shown the rest of the world that it is a major competitor through athletics, technology and a progressive economy. The model used in these findings was the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essayIntroductionThe Olympic Games began in Olympia centuries ago. The first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896 in Athens, Greece. The man responsible for their revival was a Frenchman named Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who presented the idea in 1894. His original idea was to unveil the modern Games in 1900 in his native Paris, but delegates from 34 countries were so Fascinated by the concept, they convinced him to move the Games to 1896 and make Athens the first host. The Olympic Games can be considered one of the biggest sporting events of the year. The games are held in different countries every 4 years and attract millions of people who are spectators, competitors, volunteers or workers at the Olympics. The games are divided into two events: the Summer Olympics and the Winter Olympics. The events occur every four years, as previously stated, but they alternate every two years. Hosting the Olympics has enormous advantages for a country, but it also has disadvantages. So what impact did the Olympics have on China? The 2008 Olympics were held in Beijing, China, due to the country's progress from a largely rural, more open, wealthier, and primarily urban society (Yambilla, 2015). According to an article by Wasserstrom (2012), Westerners seemed so concerned about whether hosting the Olympics would push China toward Western-style political reforms, and no one seemed concerned about whether , instead of changing China, China could actually change us. China, by hosting the Olympics, helped them gain greater international acceptance (Yambilla, 2015). They also proved themselves to be athletic competitors. The Summer Olympics provide an opportunity to demonstrate to the world how "democratic, open, civilized, friendly and harmonious" China is. This gives China the opportunity to benefit economically through tourism and job creation. According to Sands (2008), for the Chinese government, hosting the Olympic Games also meant a turning point in its economic development. He further asserts that this provided an opportunity to begin the transition from an economy based on serving as an assembly platform for global manufacturing to one focused on providing goods and services to China's prosperous and growing middle class. The Chinese government has invested billions of dollars in sports facilities, housing, roads, mass transit systems, and other infrastructure (Sands 2008). The Chinese government has prioritized the development of a public transportation system. Before this system, the city only had two linessubway (Laidlaw 2008). It was said that by the start of the Olympics, seven light rail lines had been added (Laidlaw). This risked further overpopulating the country. A total of thirty-seven examples were built in China ahead of the Olympics and may be used at future events (Laidlaw 2008). They built hotels and hospitals. The increased awareness resulting from hosting the Olympic Games in China may be important for achieving economic benefits, such as attracting tourists and business investment. The long-term investment resulting from preparing for a major event will ensure that the city and country have a legacy of improved sporting venues (Champions 2016). This will be important for investments in the city to cover infrastructure and transportation to meet the needs of the massive number of potential foreigners who will enter the city in the future as tourists. According to Champions (2016), significant investment has been made in public transport projects around London. This will leave a lasting legacy for the residents of London, particularly those in the East End. Job creation is a major benefit of hosting the Olympic Games. As one can imagine, to successfully complete a major event like the Olympics, years of planning, investment, construction and event management are required. Thanks to these requirements, jobs are created. Obviously, there would be plenty of jobs available in construction. Road improvements would be needed for the influx of new visitors. There may be a need to expand or improve current facilities, such as hospitals and hotels. Vendors will be needed to sell food and other merchandise such as t-shirts and other souvenirs. Parking managers will be sought, drivers will be needed as well as tourist guides. A major sporting event can create excitement and enthusiasm before the event, during the event, and for months or even years afterward, explains Champion (2016). He goes on to argue that it can also help promote the participation of sport, which has lasting benefits for the health of the nation and leads to an increase in volunteering, which promotes civic virtues. The Olympics always see a surge in visitors and media as the world's greatest athletes come to town. This will result in a sudden increase in spending and an injection of money into the local economy for several weeks (Champion 2016). Just as there are advantages for China in hosting the Olympics, there are also disadvantages. Urban branding is a common practice adopted by many cities in the context of intensified urban competition for mobile resources, markets, opportunities, and attention (Yambilla 2015). Expenses related to organizing the Olympic Games can reach the category of billions of dollars. The amount spent on the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics was estimated at $300 million (Yambilla 2015). An estimated $22.8 billion was spent on gaming-related infrastructure (Yambilla 2015). The overall expenditure is estimated to have reached the total. $40 billion (Yambilla 2015). Host countries see their GDP decline and their debt accumulate. Not only do host countries experience a decline in GDP growth a year after the games, but they also incur debt. As the Beijing Olympics began, the former host cities of Montreal (1976), Barcelona (1992), Sydney (2000) and Athens.