{"id":1959,"date":"2017-03-20T15:49:00","date_gmt":"2017-03-20T15:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eventsglos.wordpress.com\/?p=1959"},"modified":"2018-11-20T13:27:54","modified_gmt":"2018-11-20T13:27:54","slug":"balancing-the-moral-scale-of-events-when-is-it-time-to-say-no","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uniofglos.blog\/eventsglos\/2017\/03\/20\/balancing-the-moral-scale-of-events-when-is-it-time-to-say-no\/","title":{"rendered":"Balancing the Moral Scale of Events: When is it time to say no?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Event managers design and create unforgettable experiences across the world every day, many of which contribute significantly to the economic wealth of their host cities and towns. However, it comes to a point where the economic benefits need to be weighed up against the fatal consequences that occur at events. Leaving us with a key question that needs to be asked, when is it time to say no to organising controversial events?<\/p>\n

A prime example of this would be horse racing events, as despite their popularity and regal heritage, the perilous nature of these sporting events are continuously questioned. The most recent horse deaths at this year\u2019s Cheltenham Festival, highlight the negative repercussions of such events held in the UK.<\/p>\n

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However, with just under a quarter of a million attendees passing through the gates over the four days, Cheltenham Festival is an extremely successful event that can achieve substantial benefits. With the horseracing festival driving \u00a3100 million into Gloucestershire each year, it may be difficult to see past the economic remuneration and weigh up the fatal consequences that occur as a result of the event taking place.<\/p>\n

The three fatalities caused by the event this year reiterates the event\u2019s brutal nature. Cheltenham Festival has now made its way to the top of the league for the most horse racing deaths within the last 17 years, totalling to 56 overall.<\/p>\n

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As the planning commences for Cheltenham Festival 2018, we must consider how many horse deaths can be justified in pursuit of economic gain?<\/p>\n

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Equally, music festivals also present event managers with this moral dilemma. With independent festivals contributing more than \u00a31 billion into the UK economy between 2010-2015, the festival experience economy is also booming.<\/p>\n

Many festival organisers design their events based on the concept of escapism, which may promote open-minded and liberal actions amongst attendees. Some would argue the idea of escapism has gone too far, with festival organisers encouraging out of body experiences and anti-social behaviour through their theming. One example of this is demonstrated through the \u2018Glastopia<\/a>\u2019 theming at Glastonbury.<\/p>\n

Consequently, festival attendees are frequently abusing this experience through the illicit use of drugs, which has ultimately resulted in an abundance of arrests and numerous fatalities. A\u00a0recent BBC documentary<\/a> highlights these drug-related\u00a0deaths presented at UK festivals.<\/p>\n

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Boomtown, a Music and Arts Festival, currently holds the UK\u2019s highest festival death rate for drug-related incidents, totaling to 4 deaths within 7 years. This, coupled with many other drug-related fatalities at UK festivals, is noticeably alarming. How many more lives must be taken to outweigh the economic impact of hosting events?<\/p>\n

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Namely, another event falling guilty to several fatalities includes the TT and Manx Grand Prix motorcycle racing events in the Isle of Man. Since the advent of Tourist Trophy racing in 1907, both events combined have one of the highest fatality rates in UK sporting history, killing a total of 267 people, of which include riders, spectators and marshals.<\/p>\n

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Dubbed the world\u2019s most dangerous sporting event, the races are the island’s greatest source of income; attracting over 50,000 visitors, and generating approximately \u00a325 million. Nevertheless, the event is still relentlessly slaying all those at stake, with 11 killed in just one year.<\/p>\n

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It is clear the aforementioned events all share common ground, but how do we as professional\u2019s form decisions and balance both sides of the moral scale? Do we base them on what\u2019s right or wrong or is the subject too ambiguous? It\u2019s apparent that a balance of morals isn\u2019t one that is determined by a set of rules, instead it\u2019s a decision based on individual interpretation.<\/p>\n

Leaving us with a key question that needs to be asked, when is it time to say no to organising controversial events?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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