A Bibliographic Perspective on Mega Sports Events

The purpose of this article is to identify the most influential elements in the literature on mega sports events. In this context, it aims to identify the most influential authors, institutions, countries, journals, and documents. Additionally, it examines the most influential collaborations and the most frequently studied topics in this field. Finally, it suggests potential areas for future research. In this study, a search was conducted using the keywords “mega sports event* or large-scale sports event* or major sports event*” in the Web of Science database. The data obtained from the search were analyzed and shaped by applying the study criteria, and the findings were presented using the VOSviewer 1.6.20 program. A total of 4,316 studies were included in the research. According to the citation analysis findings, the most influential document in this field is Thomson et al. (2019), journal: European Sport Management Quarterly, author: Taks, M., institution: University of Florida, and country: United Kingdom. According to the co-author analysis results, the most collaborative author is Taks M., the institution is Griffith University, and the country is the United States of America. Additionally, it was determined that studies conducted with the keywords Olympics, tourism, marketing, and FIFA World Cup have gained intensity. The general framework of this study summarizes the research conducted on mega sports events. Additionally, the deficiencies and most effective studies in this field are highlighted. Current and missing topics in terms of research areas of mega sports events are discussed.

Cite this article as: Ayhan, M., Çakıcı, H. A., & Cevahircioğlu, B. (2026). A bibliographic perspective on mega sports events. Research in Sports Science, 16, 0083, doi: 10.5152/rss.2026.25083.