Destination risk perceptions among U.S. residents for London as the host city of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games

•Demographics helped determine intention to travel to an Olympic Games host city.•Past experience partially determined intention to visit an Olympic Games host city.•3 destination risk perception items determined intention to travel to a host city.•Travel risk type determined intention to travel to an Olympic Games host city.

Risks associated with the Olympic Games have been studied; however, there is lack of research that examines prospective tourists' perceptions of a host city in terms of destination risk. To examine prospective tourists' destination risk perceptions for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, a survey of 4000 American residents was conducted. Overall, U.S. residents perceived the host city to be safe. Hierarchical regression revealed that demographic factors were drivers of the intention to travel to an Olympic Games host city. While controlling for demographics, past experience traveling to a host city and attending an Olympic Games affected the likelihood to travel. Three destination risk perception items were drivers of the intention to travel to a host city, when controlling for demographics and past experience. Lastly, when controlling for all the independent variables, travel risk type index was a driver of the intention to travel to an Olympic Games host city.