Beautifiation through exclusion. City image versus social marginalization on the example of the Summer Olympic Games

Abstract

Organising significant sports and cultural events becomes an impulse to accelerate the development of cities and regions. The changes concern various elements of urban space, from public transport to building infrastructure. In the face of increased media interest, city authorities are trying to create a positive image of the city as a place to settle, invest and visit. This involves beautifying public areas where people from marginalised groups also lead their lives. The homeless, vagrants, prostitutes and drug and alcohol addicts, through their appearance and non-standard behaviour, differ from the designed image of the city. The article focuses on the activities of authorities and local governments related to cleaning public spaces from groups affected by social exclusion, which intensifies in the preparation period for the Summer Olympic Games. The text is based on a review of press reports, scientific literature, and reports from organisations dealing with the problem of marginalisation. Analysing the collected material allows for a discussion on the actions taken, their frequency and the socio-political situation in which they occur. The results show that regardless of the city in which the Games are held, marginalised groups experience similar repression of a similar nature using analogous tools. The article attempts to systematise the available knowledge in historical and social contexts.

Keywords

• olympic games
• social exclusion
• mega-events
• marginalisation
• clean-up streets