What is a benefit cities derive from funding sport clubs and teams?

Cities derive significant benefits from funding sports clubs and teams as a means of promoting themselves as desirable locations. When cities invest in sports, they create a vibrant environment that can boost tourism, attract new residents, and encourage businesses to establish themselves in the area. Sports events can draw large crowds, leading to increased economic activity in local hotels, restaurants, and shops. Additionally, hosting successful sports teams can enhance a city's image and provide a sense of community pride, making it more attractive to potential visitors and investors alike.

The other options, while they may have some relevance, do not encapsulate the primary benefit cities seek through investing in sports. Attracting international athletes can be a result of funding but is more of a secondary effect than the primary goal. Developing new sports facilities, while beneficial, is more about the infrastructure investment rather than the holistic promotional aspect. Increasing crime rates to justify security funding is not a beneficial outcome and runs contrary to the goals of promoting safety and community well-being through positive activities like sports.