Sportcal's fifth edition of the Global Sports Impact (GSI) Report takes an in-depth look at the hosting and bidding of major sporting events across the year of 2018 and their impact for event owners and host cities, featuring analysis and research from Sportcal's unique GSI Project and Event Analysis database. 

A total of 84 events held in 2018 are featured in this year's report, led by the most impactful event of the year, as measured by the GSI Event Rating methodology, the 2018 FIFA World Cup, held in Russia. 

 

The FIFA World Cup, soccer’s pinnacle event, regularly scores as the second biggest sporting competition after the Olympic Summer Games in the rankings of the GSI, and the 2018 edition, won by France, was no different. The event attracted an attendance of over 3 million across the 64 matches played in 12 cities, while television and online streaming coverage were made available in over 200 nations.

The total GSI Event Rating of 8,223 points for accounted for 84% of Russia’s overall score of 9,800 across the year, enough to make it crowned the the event hosting nation of 2018. It also hosted the FINA Women's Water Polo World Cup, the Trampoline and Tumbling World Championships and the World Beach Handball Championship. 

 

Korea came second, in large part thanks to its hosting of both the Olympic Winter Games and the Paralympic Winter Games, which were both ranked within the top seven scoring events of the year. The hosting of these major winter multisport games in Korea should see it develop into an important destination for winter sports events in Asia, building on from the impressive infrastructure and profits generated from the games.

Please click here to purchase the GSI Report 2019 in full for £750, with a special offer of £500 available to subscribers – to receive this special offer, please contact Client Services at clientservices@sportcal.com.