Sport-Oriented Micro Smart Cities - The Next Wave of Urban Evolution? Analyzing the Transformation of Modern Sports Infrastructure into Technologically Advanced, Functionally Integrated Environments

While smart city research predominantly focuses on large urban areas, this paper investigates smaller, purpose-built environments, proposing an operational definition for the "Micro Smart City" concept. It specifically analyzes "Sport-Oriented Micro Smart Cities", arguing that large-scale, technologically advanced sports complexes (elite training centers, academies, stadiums) are evolving into such entities. This transformation is driven by the integration of smart technologies and the adoption of selected urban functions (like housing, services, and operational self-sufficiency), allowing these facilities to emulate urban characteristics despite lacking municipal governance. Case studies of modern sports infrastructure illustrate this evolution. The paper contributes to understanding smart city scalability and the diverse manifestations of smart urbanism in specialized, micro-scale contexts.