The book addresses the full lifecycle of major event hosting, including how nations and cities win the right to host, how organising committees build the operational and commercial structures to deliver at scale, how host governments maximise return on investment, and how lasting social, economic and infrastructure legacies are built and measured. While the 2023 Women’s World Cup provides the centrepiece case study, Hosting the World draws on examples from across the global major events landscape, making it essential reading for anyone operating in this space.According to Johnson:

“Hosting a major international sporting event is one of the most complex, high-stakes efforts a nation can take on. The social, cultural, and economic benefits can be life-changing. But the costs of getting it wrong can also be high. I wrote this book because I believe the knowledge to do it right exists, and it should be shared.” 

Publisher Bonita Mersiades believes the book will be the standard reference for sports executives, government officials, bid committee members, event professionals, and policymakers engaged with the major events sector globally.

“James Johnson brings a rare combination of strategic vision and operational credibility to the subject matter. Hosting the World is a book the major events industry has needed. It’s practical, rigorous and written by someone who has truly been in the arena,” Mersiades commented.