Bidding for Development: How the Olympic Bid Process Can Accelerate Transportation Development

In 2012, over four billion people tuned in to watch the London Summer Olympics. As the single largest mega-event in the world, the Olympics has the power to captivate the global imagination. Long before athletes vie for a gold medal, however, competition between cities eager to host the Games kicks off with a rigorous bid process. The lengthy and expensive endeavor to host the Olympics is as high-stakes as any sporting event. Rather than encouraging cities to refrain from bidding, Bidding for Development takes a policy approach that challenges stakeholders to bid responsibly and strategically in pursuit of concrete outcomes.

Every bid city has the potential to accelerate long-term transportation development through a strategic and robust planning process. This book concentrates on the phenomenon of repeat Olympic bids and the opportunities that may come from bidding, particularly for those cities that never win the Games. In this context, Bidding for Development explores the intersection between transportation infrastructure development, the Olympic bid process, and the resulting legacies experienced by bid losers. The findings address the central question: how can participating in the Olympic bid process accelerate transportation development regardless of the bid result?

In response, this book presents a Bid Framework outlining how and when cities may use the bid to unite resources, align transportation priorities, and empower leaders to achieve urban development objectives in preparation for the Olympic bid. The Bid Framework is then applied to two case studies, Manchester and Istanbul, to examine each bid loser’s effectiveness in using the bid process to catalyze transportation development. Concurrently, the book takes into consideration how the International Olympic Committee’s evolving bid regulations and requirements relate to urban development and positive social legacy. Bidding for Development delivers actionable recommendations for all Olympic stakeholders to improve the value of the bid process and transportation benefits beyond the Games.

Ngiste R. Abebe

Ngiste is an international development professional working on countries in political transition. Prior to that, she has held a variety of positions in federal government, academia, and the non-profit sectors working on project management, research, and strategic communications. Ngiste received her masters in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon’s Heinz College to provide a quantitative and analytical supplement to her bachelors from the University of Chicago. A former collegiate rower, and now high school crew coach, her favorite Olympic event is cheering on Team USA’s women’s eight.

Maggie M. Pavelka

Maggie is a communications professional working in federal instructional design and facilitation. She started her career in non-profit development and public health advocacy.  Her interest in global health and international development led her to serve in the U.S. Peace Corps in Senegal, West Africa, before pursuing a Masters of Science in Public Policy and Management at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College. While at Carnegie Mellon, Maggie worked as a Strategic Communications Specialist at the U.S. Agency for International Development. Her portfolio included external stakeholder engagement, and high-level policy coordination and analysis. As a native Nebraskan, Maggie earned a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Nebraska. She enjoys Husker football and time with her three nieces.

Morgan L. Pierstorff

Morgan is an economic development professional working in international trade and investment. A native Kentuckian, Morgan obtained her undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and Political Science from Kentucky Wesleyan College. Morgan has held a variety of state and federal positions working in project management, intergovernmental relations, and legislative affairs. Morgan’s interest in crafting effective policy solutions for globalproblems led her to pursue a Masters of Science in Public Policy and Management at Carnegie Mellon’s Heinz College. While at Carnegie Mellon, Morgan served as a Liaison at the U.S. Department of State in the office of the Secretary’s Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs where she worked closely with subnational officials in Africa, India, and China. An avid trail runner, Morgan loves living an active lifestyle with her husband and dog Arya, and spending time with her family on their farm in western Kentucky.

Mary “Trina” Bolton

In her profession as an international affairs officer in Washington, D.C., Trina has an opportunity to work on public diplomacy programs and people-to-people exchanges. Her inspiration to pursue a Master of Science in Public Policy  and Management from Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College and current role in D.C. are rooted in her attraction to global policymaking. After earning a degree in international affairs at George Washington University, Trina grew her knowledge in this arena with a job of three years at the Brookings Institution. Originally from Atlanta, she returned for several years before Carnegie Mellon to work and travel for GlobalAtlanta, an international journalism business. Her experience as a cross country athlete at GWU carried over as Trina still runs for fun and incorporates running and other sports in her day-to-day life.