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The global hosting of major events is garnering increasing attention from governments. As this phenomenon expands into emerging states, where arguably the most severe inequalities exist, the question of who truly benefits from these events has not been systematically scrutinised, particularly from an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) perspective. Therefore, adopting a nuanced segmentation approach is increasingly vital to assess the diverse impacts of hosting major sporting events on varied populations. This systematic review offers a broad and exploratory investigation into how major sporting events affect communities and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds (CIDBs).

In alignment with the PRISMA guidelines, four academic databases were searched to identify peer-reviewed articles published in English-language journals from 2000 to 2023. A total of 95 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility, culminating in a final sample of 14 articles in the review.

The selected articles showed moderate quality and primarily used qualitative methods. The urban theories or event leverage frameworks are frequently employed. There are four legacy/impact themes that emerged: social, economic, sport and infrastructure. The prevailing conclusion is that CIDBs tend to experience negative legacies from these events.

This research underscores the pressing need for more socially responsible and equitable approaches to event hosting. Failing to tackle these crucial issues may intensify existing inequalities and provoke significant public dissatisfaction, thereby jeopardising the overarching goals these major events strive to accomplish.

This review marks the first of its kind, offering a thorough and comprehensive synthesis of evidence concerning the legacies of major events for CIDBs.