Examination of the characteristics and methodology that enabled non-host cities to run pre-games training camps during the COVID-19 pandemic:

This study examined the characteristics of host town municipalities that were able to host pre-games training camps during the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspectives of host town population, their collaboration with the private sector, prefectural support, and relationships with the participating countries. The aim was to clarify how non-host cities can effectively utilize opportunities for a sports mega-event such as pre-games training camps.<br> 　Based on the results of a questionnaire survey of all host town municipalities, data on pre-games training camps provided by the Cabinet Secretariat, and an interview survey of municipalities with distinctive initiatives, the implementation of pre-games training camps in host town municipalities was determined.<br> 　The results revealed that because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the location of the participating countries significantly impacted the status of the training camps in the host towns. The implementation rate of such training camps in each participating country was low in Asia and high in Europe and the Americas.<br> 　It appeared easier for host town municipalities with larger populations and access to public and private resources to host pre-games training camps. Prefectural support for host town municipalities with smaller populations made it easier for these municipalities to host the camps. This finding, supported by quantitative analysis, confirms the importance of stakeholder management in non-host city projects such as pre-games training camps that previous case studies have exemplified. It is crucial for prefectures to support non-host city projects through operations that can exploit their expertise and economies of scale.