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Why would any city want to host the Olympics?

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The Olympic rings in a sand sculpture
A general view of the Olympic Rings, flag, Vinicius and Christ the Redeemer made into a sand sculpture on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro.
Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

The Rio Olympics were supposed to mark the ascension of South America as a world player, but political and economic chaos, health concerns, protests and cost over-runs marred Rio's chances for a successful coming out party. With the athletic drama behind us, the work begins of assessing the effect the games had on Brazil and its people.

It also gives us a chance to look ahead and ask why any city would want to take the chance Rio took - to host an event that literally demands the transformation of your city. The 2022 Winter Olympics struggled to find a host city after the seemingly best prospects dropped out for lack of public support or anger at the requirements imposed by the International Olympic Committee.

MPR News host Tom Weber talks with two experts who have studied the Olympics and their economic and social impact and why cities would ever want to host the Olympic Games.

Guests:

- Victor Matheson, professor of economics at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA and author of "Going for the Gold: The Economics of the Olympics"

- David Goldblatt, is author of "The Games: A Global History of the Olympics"