2015 Cricket World Cup the biggest success since Sydney Olympics

Australia’s triumph during this year’s Cricket World Cup was a remarkable success, but the broader economic benefits of the event were equally as stunning.

Major sporting events such as the Olympics and FIFA World Cup have come under fire lately for being detrimental to host countries, but financial analysts Pricewaterhouse Coopers have released a glowing report today of the tournament’s impact on New Zealand and Australia’s economies and communities.

Key Findings

• AU$1.1 billion was directly spent at the event, triggering a $460m boost to annual GDP across both nations – creating 8,320 full-time equivalent jobs.
• Visitors from every inhabited continent attended the event: 40’000 from Asia, 35’000 from Europe, 5’000 from Africa, 20’000 from North America and 1’000 from South America
• International visitors injected $410m into the two economies
• Over one million fans attended matches at the event – including 20 sold out matches, eight of which did not involve the host nations. The final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, was the highest recorded attendance in the world for any single day of cricket in history (93,013)
• The total tournament TV audience was estimated to be 1.5 billion, one of the highest watched sports events in history
• Infrastructure upgrades to Bellerive and Manuka Oval had positive returns on investment
• 2,516 Australian schools and 1,380 New Zealand schools took part in programs to promote grassroots participation and ICC CWC 2015

2015 Cricket World Cup CEO John Harnden was thrilled with the outcome of the report,

“This was the biggest event in Australia since the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and it has changed cricket in New Zealand forever,”

“When you consider the TV audience of over 1.5 billion, saturation of coverage across all digital platforms and the mainstream media coverage of the event across the 14 Host Cities, the Cricket World Cup has not only showcased the best of Australia and New Zealand but has enhanced the tournament’s reputation as a major global driver for economic and community benefit.”

The World Cup continued Australia’s unique ability to successfully deliver major world-class tournaments that are beneficial for athletes, fans and the wider Australian community itself.

At the closing ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch declared at the Closing Ceremony,

“I am proud and happy to proclaim that you have presented to the world the best Olympic Games ever.”

And it seems Australia has been able to replicate that effort fifteen years later.

New Zealand has also demonstrated its ability to punch above its weight, backing up its hosting of the 2011 Rugby World Cup with a resounding success this year.

Australia’s next major hosting gig is the 2015 Netball World Cup in Sydney this August and New Zealand has just wrapped up the FIFA U/20 World Cup, won by Serbia.