Page 36 - MidJersey Business - May 2014

n June, Mercer County

will host the 2014 Special
Olympics USA Games, an

event that will draw more

than 100,000 people and is
Iexpected to pump $116.5 million

into the region’s economy.
Special Olympics emerged

in the 1960s when Eunice Ken-
nedy hosted a summer camp for

disabled individuals. Her passion
was to provide a safe haven for
ECONOMIC FIGURES
disabled children while promot-
ing their welfare and growth

in the community. The Special The 2014 Special Olympics USA Games organization estimates that more than 100,000
Olympics was born from her idea people will be a part of this event. The 2014 USA Games are expected to attract upwards of

of helping vulnerable children. 4,500 athletes, 1,000 coaches, 2,000 delegates, 10,000 volunteers, and 70,000 spectators
Special Olympics provides
and visitors, with the possibility of an additional 20,000 individual attendees.
an opportunity for disabled The 2014 USA Games has both an implicit and explicit economic impact. The implicit
individuals to participate in their
economic impact is brand integrity: nearly 97 percent of individuals recognize Special
favorite sports, it plays a role in Olympics. The explicit economic impact is the expected surge in tourism-related sales,

empowering the lives of disabled such as retail, food, accommodations, as well as other support industries like inance, insur-
athletes, generates economic ac- ance, and infrastructure.

tivity, and promotes social justice According to Lillian Narvaez, chief operating oficer of the 2014 Special Olympics USA
and acceptance.
Games, the production of the Games will cost approximately $15 million. This estimate

Special Olympics is present
includes staff costs, venues, insurance, information technology, entertainment, guest ser-
in approximately 175 countries, vices, rental ofices and warehouses, and medical services, among others.

with seven oices in the United A total of 51 delegations will be traveling to New Jersey for the 2014 USA Games. Of this
States, Ireland, Egypt, South total, 37 delegations accompanied by 2,000 athletes and 562 coaches will arrive via air

Africa, India, China, and Panama travel; the cost for this travel alone is approximately $600,000. The travel cost for the re-
hosting a total of 44,000 events.
maining 14 delegations, 1,467 athletes, and coaches is $36,300 via bus and luxury coach

Mercer County was selected to transportation. Numerous event participants and their respective families will also travel by
host the 2014 Special Olympics
personal vehicle.
USA Games, which will be held in Kenneth McGill, executive vice president of Vantage Strategy, Inc., and a lead research
venues from Princeton
consultant for Global Business Travel Association, states that the average New Jersey tourist
University to
expenditure is $59 per person. By using conservative numbers—75,000 visitors over ive

Mercer County days—$22.125 million will be spent as a result of the event. The total cost for visitors’ hotel
Park to Sun accommodations is about $3.8 million. There will be approximately 1,750 families who will

National Bank join athletes and coaches, spending an average of $750 for the week, totaling more than
Center from $1.3 million. Federal, state, and local tax revenue is expected to exceed $1.1 million.

June 14–21.
Volunteer spending will also have a signiicant economic impact. New Jersey volun-
teer time is valued at $25.91 per hour and the Games will have 10,000 volunteers, each

dedicating approximately 15 hours. This results in the overall value of volunteer time
surpassing $3.9 million. About 80 percent of volunteers are expected to use their

personal cars with 20 percent traveling by public transportation.

The 2014 Special Olympics USA Games will

draw more than 100,000 athletes, coaches,

spectators, and volunteers to mid-Jersey in

June and is expected to pump approximately

$116.5 million into the region’s economy.

34 business.com
midJersey