Research regarding the impact and legacy of the Cycling World Championships 2021 and the title European Sports City 2021 on the city of Leuven

Cities and municipalities invest in sport and sports events. In addition to using sport as a goal, sport is also increasingly used as a means to achieve other things. For example, governments grant subsidies for clubs that have a specific offer for certain vulnerable target groups, with the aim to integrate these target groups in society. In addition, governments organise major spectator sports events to, for example, upgrade (sports) infrastructure or to create togetherness among residents. The aim of this research is to measure the impact and legacy of the Cycling World Championships 2021 and the title European Sports City 2021 on the city of Leuven. More specifically, both the positive and negative effects at local level will be investigated (connectedness, involvement, conflicts and nuisance, sports participation). Various stakeholders will be questioned based on semi-structured interviews and (online) questionnaires (e.g. residents, participants in sports events, volunteers, etc.). based on the results of this research, policymakers will gain insight into the effects that sport can produce when used as a means to achieve other things. This way they can optimise their future sports (events) policy.