Synopses & Reviews
The Olympics: A Critical Reader represents a unique, critical guide to the definitive sporting mega-event and the wider phenomenon it represents Olympism. Combining classic texts and thoughtful editorial discussion with challenging new pieces, including previously unseen material, the book systematically addresses the key questions in modern Olympism, including:
- what does studying Olympism entail?
- how do historical accounts create and challenge Olympic myths?
- how do different theoretical perspectives inform our understanding of Olympism?
- which socio-political processes influence personal, collective and imagined Olympic identities?
- how do we experience and make sense of Olympism?
- who owns Olympism and why does it matter?
- how do cities compete for and celebrate the Olympics?
- How are the Olympic values promoted?
- why is it important to protect the ethical principles and properties of Olympism?
- what are the grounds for contesting Olympism?
- how can Olympism be taught?
- how can the principles and practices of Olympism be sustained in the future?
Each thematic part has been designed to include a range of views, including background treatment of an issue as well as critical scholarship, to ensure that students develop a well-rounded understanding of the Olympic phenomenon. The Olympics: A Critical Reader is essential reading for students of the Olympics and Olympism, the sociology of sport, sport management and cultural studies.
Synopsis
The Olympics: A Critical Reader provides a unique, critical reference source and systematically sets out the key themes in modern Olympism, offering a structured approach to the subject for students and lecturers.
Synopsis
The Olympic Games are a modern international sports extravaganza with an ancient history. Today's Olympic Games have an importance reaching far beyond the four-yearly festival of competitive athletics, with a constant presence in the public consciousness and a significant impact on social policy and politics, business, economics and the media.
The Olympics: A Critical Reader represents a unique, critical guide to the definitive sporting mega-event. Combining classic texts and thoughtful editorial discussion with challenging new pieces, including previously unseen material from the IOC archive, the book systematically addresses the key themes in modern Olympism, including:
- Olympic ethics
- The Olympics and the media
- Managing and marketing the Olympics
- Politicising the Olympics
- Paralympic studies
- Cultural Olympics
- Olympic education
- Olympic legacies
- The future of the Olympics
Each thematic section has been designed to include a range of views, including those of the IOC as well as critical scholarship, to ensure that students develop a well-rounded understanding of the Olympic phenomenon. The Olympics: A Critical Reader is essential reading for students of the Olympics and Olympism, the sociology of sport, sport management and cultural studies.