Olympic Games

A hapless attempt at swimming': Representations of Eric Moussambani

by John Nauright

published in Critical Arts 17:1/2 (2003), 106-122, co-authored with Tara Magdalinski

One of the most powerful images to emerge from the pool at the Sydney 2000 Olympics was that of Eric Moussambani from... more One of the most powerful images to emerge from the pool at the Sydney 2000 Olympics was that of Eric Moussambani from Equatorial Guinea who swam his heat of the 100-meter freestyle alone after the other two swimmers in his heat were disqualified. Moussambani completed the distance over one minute slower than eventual gold medallist Pieter van den Hoogenband. The media coverage of Moussambani's performance illustrates that the discourses of colonialism, paternalism, and racial stereotyping remain central in the modern Olympic movement. This paper analyses media reports of Moussambani and identifies three main frames used to contextualize his performance at the Olympics. We situate Moussambani's swim within a broader framework that reveals the mechanisms used to display African bodies for the European gaze as well as the paternalist Olympic discourse that seeks to universalize Western sporting practices within a global culture that privileges Western cultural and economic practices.

WADA overturns BOA's lifetime Olympic ban

by Mark James

This is a short article outlining the recent CAS decision that held that the BOA had acted ultra vires when banning... more This is a short article outlining the recent CAS decision that held that the BOA had acted ultra vires when banning for life athletes who had previously been suspended for a doping offence.

The London 2012 Olympic Games Announcement Effect on London Stock Exchange

by Dimitris Kenourgios

D. Asteriou, A. Samitas and D. Kenourgios, “The London 2012 Olympic Games Announcement Effect on London Stock Exchange”, Journal of Economic Studies, forthcoming.

This paper investigates the reaction of the London Stock Exchange to the announcement of the city hosting 2012 Summer... more This paper investigates the reaction of the London Stock Exchange to the announcement of the city hosting 2012 Summer Olympic Games. The expectations of the Olympic Games, are the anticipation of massive economic boosts to the host cities. These expectations are presumed to be translated into positive stock price returns. This research examines the London Stock Exchange industrial indices reactions to this announcement in July 2005. In order to evaluate the returns we employ regressions with GARCH and TARCH models that contain the appropriate dummy variables together with Event Study Analysis. The empirical results suggest an overall positive impact of the announcement on the London Stock Exchange, something that is consistent with previous studies in the topic. However, this result is not consistent for all indices while there were some negative effects as well. This can be explained by the fact that soon after the announcement a terrorist attack took place in London that may have affected reversely the general positive feeling in the Stock Market.

Olympic Ceremony Design vs Lateral Thinking: Spectacular Creativity

by Wichian Lattipongpun

Design Principles and Practices: An International Journal, Volume 4, Issue 4, pp.11-20. (2010)

The Olympic Games’ Opening Ceremony has always been a challenge among practitioners in media and installation... more The Olympic Games’ Opening Ceremony has always been a challenge among practitioners in media and installation industries. In every four year cycle, it draws a lot of international attention. The creativity and preparation of the opening ceremony must be complex, elaborate and innovative; it results in a uniqueness in each ceremony. Therefore, the ceremonies are usually unpredictable. Significantly, the ceremony is broadcast live through international media networks; however, there is only one chance to exhibit it. Mistakes can occur in the presentation, but they will not be anticipated. In order to generate this spectacular ceremony, creative thinking must be involved. I propose to apply the Lateral Thinking (Creative thinking technique), invented by Edward de Bono, as a research metaphor to analyse the Athens 2004 Olympic Games’ Opening Ceremony as a case study. It is anticipated, the results of this study will illustrate whether or not de Bono’s lateral thinking technique is applicable to approach this mega-tainment ceremony.

The relationship between sponsorship & sporting events; the case of Mcdonald's sponsoring the Olympics

by Sam Thompson

The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between McDonald’s and its sponsorship of The Olympics by testing... more The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between McDonald’s and its sponsorship of The Olympics by testing how the consumer has been influenced.

H1 = Attributes associated with sporting events are transferred to sponsoring brands.

H2 = Brand image is transferred from the event to the sponsoring brand, not from the sponsoring brand to the event.

The hypotheses this study aimed to research are drawn from the research done by Gwinner, K. & Eaton, J. (1999); ‘Event sponsorship as a value creating strategy for brands’ and also Donahay, B. & Rosenberger, P, (2007); ‘Effectiveness of Image Transfer in Formula One Racing’. The study explores the image transfer process from The Olympic games to McDonald’s and whether the process can happen to the contrary though the sponsorship relationship.

The concluding findings were in favour of the hypotheses tested. Brand transfer does in fact occur from event to brand through the intervention of sponsorship. Further more the transfer can also be transferred from brand to event, as was found in the case of McDonald’s.  Negativity associated with the McDonald’s brand was found to be associated with The Olympic Games post sponsorship. However, certain restrictions to the parameters of the study have influenced validity greatly, regarding the overall significance of the data analysis.

The conclusions established should be of particular interest to corporations looking to streamline marketing communications strategies in the UK. Being of particular relevance for companies and corporations within the UK during and emerging from an economic downturn, as well as a platform for further study in the future.

London 2012 and the impact of the UK’s Olympic and Paralympic legislation: protecting commerce or preserving culture?

by Mark James

(2011) 74(3) Modern Law Review 410-429

The general commercial rights associated with the Olympic Movement are protected in the UK by the Olympic Symbols etc... more The general commercial rights associated with the Olympic Movement are protected in the UK by the Olympic Symbols etc (Protection) Act 1995. In addition, the UK Government, in response to a requirement of the Host City Contract with the International Olympic Committee, created the London Olympic Association Right under section 33 and Schedule 4 of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games Act 2006. These provisions enable the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games to exploit, to the fullest extent, the commercial rights associated with the London Olympic Games. This article questions whether the IOC’s requirement for legislative protection and state enforcement of the commercial rights are compatible with the Fundamental Principles of Olympism as defined in the Olympic Charter, and its stated aim of being a celebration of sporting endeavour, culture and education.

Suçlu Değil, Çare Aramalı

by Mert Yasar

Radikal, 19.08.2004

Süreyya Ayhan Kop'u vatan haini olarak nitelendirip onu suçlu gibi yargılamak ve kariyerini bitirmesine sebep olmak... more Süreyya Ayhan Kop'u vatan haini olarak nitelendirip onu suçlu gibi yargılamak ve kariyerini bitirmesine sebep olmak yerine, onun da her elit sporcunun başına gelebilecek bir olayı yaşadığını kabul edilip ona Türk sporu için açtığı altın sayfalara bir yenisini eklemesi için şans tanınmalıdır.

Islam and the Olympics: seeking a host city in the Muslim world

by Kasim Randeree

International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management

Purpose – Awarding the Olympic Games to a host city in the Muslim world would send a clear indication from member... more Purpose – Awarding the Olympic Games to a host city in the Muslim world would send a clear indication from member nations of the International Olympic Committee of a desire by the international community to engage with Muslim nations on a level that transcends sport. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to answer the question: will a city in the Muslim world ever become host to the greatest sporting spectacle on Earth, and, if so, which is most likely to receive it, when and why?

Design/methodology/approach – To gauge the potential of cities in the Muslim world hosting the Olympics Games, the approach of the paper is to examine the merits of former host cities and then qualitatively comparing these with member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Conference which have a majority Muslim population.

Findings – The research findings indicate that there are five cities in the Muslim world, at least one of which is likely to be awarded one of the coming six Summer Olympic Games between the years 2020 and 2040.

Research limitations/implications – The broader implications of the study are that, in examining Muslim nations of the world from the point of view of mega-event management on a global scale, their development and advancement capability in the modern world can be probed.

Originality/value – In the absence of any other published study on the subject, this paper would open a discourse that would be of value to scholars and interested parties in diverse fields such as major programme management, Islamic studies, international politics, economics and international development.

Financing the Games

by Paul Kitchin

A tale of two Games

In 1976 Montreal, host of the XVIII Summer Olympics, failed to generate enough... more A tale of two Games

In 1976 Montreal, host of the XVIII Summer Olympics, failed to generate enough Games-related income to cover the costs it had incurred in hosting the event, some CN$990 million (Berry, Wenn and Martyn, 2004). At a time of economic recession in North America the Games were seen as costly and of inconsequential benefit to host cities. The 1976 Games themselves were affected by a sub-Saharan boycott and were still mired by the terrorist atrocity of the previous Munich Games. The future of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the organisation responsible for the Olympic Movement was at stake.

In 1978 only Los Angeles and Tehran bid for the right to stage the 1984 Summer Olympics, subsequently Los Angeles won the right after Tehran withdrew from the running (Gruneau, 1984). The 1980 Summer Olympics were staged in Moscow and were marred by boycotts for political reasons. The costs of the Games are unknown but it is clear that the Olympic movement was hardly reinvigorated by the Soviet experience.

In 1984, just 8 years after the debt-laden Montreal Games, the Los Angles Organising Committee for the Olympic Games embraced and refined the commercial forces surrounding the Games. Labelled at the time the ‘Burger Games,’ due to the close involvement of corporate sponsors (including McDonalds) the event produced an operating profit of between US$215-225 million (Berry et al, 2004; Magdalinski and Nauright, 2004), and created a tangible legacy for the Amateur Athletic Federation of Los Angeles (AAFLA). The key to this success was the minimal outlay of expenditure through the use of existing venues and tying sponsors into providing in-kind services as well pure finance. A variant of the financing model used is now current IOC practice and a viable and successful Olympic Movement is the result.

Financing the Games: Revisited

by Paul Kitchin

Consuming the Olympics: the fan, the rights holder and the law

by Mark James

Co-authored with Prof Guy Osborn.  This paper was specially commissioned by the British Library for its new website, 'Sport and Society: the Summer Olympics through the lens of social science

The impact of mega-sport events on tourist arrivals

by Johan Fourie

Beyond Tlatelolco: Design, Media and Politics at Mexico ‘68

by Luis M. Castañeda

Grey Room, vol. 40 (Summer 2010): 100-126.

Let the Games Begin: Politics of Olympic Games in Mexico and South Korea

by Andris Zimelis

India Quarterly: A Journal of International Affairs, Vol. 67 (3): 263- 278

This article discusses the political role of the Olympic Games and its implications on the hosting country’s political... more This article discusses the political role of the Olympic Games and its implications on the hosting country’s political and social life by analysing two cases—South Korea (1988) and Mexico (1968). Contrary to the belief that the games were created as an event that transcends politics, this study concludes that Olympic Games have been and are used as a political tool for various purposes and specific political circumstances eventually influenced the selection of Mexico’s and South Korea’s priorities for national development. Moreover, the findings of this article demonstrate that the Olympic Games served as a catalyst accelerating democratic changes in South Korea, and this finding can be applied to heuristic analysis of the future Olympic Games.

Pro-Sports, Anti-Olympics: Reclaiming the games, from the Games

by Tyler Shipley

Shipley, Tyler.  "Pro-Sports, Anti-Olympics: Reclaiming the games, from the Games," The Bullet, No. 314, Feb 13, 2010.  (also available at ZNet.)

curriculum vitae

by Helen Jefferson Lenskyj

Weight lifting: historical review of the Greek distinctions in international games

by Stathis Avramidis

Kolettis A. & Avramidis, S. (2008). Weight lifting: historical review of the Greek distinctions in international games. In: Mpempetsos, E. & Rokka, S. eds. Abstract Book of the 16th International Congress of Physical Education and Sports, Komotini: Department of Sport Science and Physical Education of Thrace, p. 20.

Επίσημα η Ελληνική Άρση Βαρών έχει μια ιστορία 112 χρόνων. Σκοπός αυτής της παρουσίασης είναι να κάνει μια ιστορική... more Επίσημα η Ελληνική Άρση Βαρών έχει μια ιστορία 112 χρόνων. Σκοπός αυτής της παρουσίασης είναι να κάνει μια ιστορική ανασκόπηση στις μεγαλύτερες Ελληνικές επιτυχίες της Άρσης Βαρών σε διεθνείς αγώνες. Οι πίνακες αποτελεσμάτων της περιόδου 1896-2007 από το αρχείο και την ιστοσελίδα της Ελληνικής Ομοσπονδίας Άρσης Βαρών (www.weightlifting.gr) καθώς επίσης και από το περιοδικό «Άρση Βαρών», χρησιμοποιήθηκαν ως βάσεις δεδομένων για την καταμέτρηση των μεταλλίων και την απόρροια συμπερασμάτων. Οι διοργανώσεις που εξετάστηκαν ήταν τα Ολυμπιακά, Παγκόσμια, Πανευρωπαϊκά και Μεσογειακά πρωταθλήματα ανδρών-γυναικών, εφήβων-νεανίδων και παίδων-κορασίδων. Με βάση τα αρχεία που χρησιμοποιήθηκαν για την καταμέτρηση των μεταλλίων, φαίνεται ότι την περίοδο 1896-2007 η Ελλάδα κατέκτησε συνολικά 633 μετάλλια. Από το 1992 και εξής, η Ελληνική Άρση Βαρών είχε σημαντικές διακρίσεις σε Ολυμπιακό, Παγκόσμιο, Πανευρωπαϊκό και Μεσογειακό επίπεδο. Οι αθλητές με τις σημαντικότερες διακρίσεις είναι ο Πύρρος Δήμας, ο Ακάκιος Καχιασβίλι και ο Λεωνίδας Σαμπάνης με 4, 3 και 2 ολυμπιακά μετάλλια αντίστοιχα. Η περίοδος 1992-2004 μπορεί να χαρακτηριστεί ως η πιο επιτυχημένη για την άρση βαρών, μια που πραγματοποιήθηκαν οι περισσότερες και μεγαλύτερες διακρίσεις σε όλες τις ηλικίες και όλες τις διοργανώσεις.

Simandiraki A. 2005, Minoan archaeology in the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, European Journal of Archaeology (EJA), 8 (2): 157-81

by Anna Simandiraki-Grimshaw

article

The Athens 2004 Olympic Games presented an opportunity for Greece to celebrate its ancient traditions and modern... more The Athens 2004 Olympic Games presented an opportunity for Greece to celebrate its ancient traditions and modern organizational skills. The organizers used archaeology as theory, iconography, idealism etc. They particularly focused on Classical antiquity, when the Games were at their height before their modern revival. This article, however, will examine the use of Minoan archaeology. I argue that, although there is no archaeological evidence to connect Minoan archaeology to the original Olympic Games, the modern Greek national narrative adapted it to the current national image of the Olympic Games. I analyse this phenomenon by deconstructing some of its processes, taking Crete as a case study. I also highlight broader issues, concerning the instrumentality of the public domain in the shaping of cultural heritage.

Genetic Enhancement in Sports: The Role of Reason and Private Rationalities in the Public Arena

by Dr Silvia Camporesi

co-authored with Paolo Maugeri, at European School of Molecular Medicine & University of Milano.
Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare EthicsCambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics (2011), 20: 248-257

Reviews of philosophical books run the risk of being either excessively and unconstructively critical or superficially... more Reviews of philosophical books run the risk of being either excessively and unconstructively critical or superficially praiseworthy. To avoid both these risks, we test the approach outlined by Häyry in his book Rationality and the Genetic Challenge: Making People Better? by applying it to an eighth genetic challenge, namely, a variation of the genetic enhancement challenge discussed by Häyry as it applies to sports. We assess whether genetic enhancement in sports should be conceived as an eighth wonder or an eighth cardinal sin that stems from the interaction between genetics and society, question whether Häyry’s nonconfrontational approach is really useful for dealing with these issues, and discuss how his method can be improved.

Running race: reconciliation, nationalism and the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

by catriona elder

with Angela Pratt and Cath Ellis. International Review for the Sociology of Sport. Vol 41, No. 2, 2006, pp. 181-200.

This article examines how the idea of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians became entwined... more This article examines how the idea of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians became entwined with the Sydney 2000 Olympics. It does this by undertaking a critical reading of media stories on the twin issues of Cathy Freeman’s 400m race, and the fear of Indigenous protest disrupting the games. We argue the Olympic Games helped to reinforce a discourse of reconciliation that best suited non-Indigenous peoples, and that the Games came to be represented as the space where reconciliation could and should take place. We suggest that, in combination with nationalist stories, the impending Olympic Games were deployed as a way of disciplining Indigenous people and maintaining a particularly conservative understanding of reconciliation; one that did little to change the unequal power relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.