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Understanding how host residents formulate their perceptions towards the Olympic Games in their city is critical for the Olympic movement and the host city. Recent research has stressed the need for local support in areas where tourists visit and cities that host mega-events. The Olympic Games are known for creating new public transportation systems, infrastructure, economic gains, and increasing national pride. The need to understand how public transit users perceive these new transportation systems, economic gains, and national pride is becoming an important issue for Olympism. This book examines perceptions of Athenian public transportation passengers regarding the effects of the 2004 Olympic Games three years after the event and can assist in understanding how residents of Beijing, London, Rio de Janeiro and other future Olympic cities will view their Games and cities. By studying the perceptions public transit users have of their Olympics several years after the event, the strengths and weaknesses of the Games could be better analyzed as the honeymoon effect has diminished.

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Dr. Spiro G. Doukas is uniquely qualified as author of a study on the Athens 2004 Olympics and public transportation. He is Lecturer of Sport Management at the University of the West Indies. He has first hand experience through employment at the Athens 2004 Olympics, the Philadelphia 76ers and transportation companies throughout America.

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