Background
This course addresses the Olympic Movement, media and culture, questioning how Olympics operates within a substantial non-sporting environment and examining its relationship to other non-governmental organizations, such as Unesco. The course explores a range of Olympic contexts, including the cultural programme, media structures and analysis, the politics of the Movement and its historical significance.

Students will:

• Understand how media organizations construct narratives on the Olympic Games.
• Develop an understanding of the Olympic Movement and it this relates to sport, political and cultural organizations.
• Appreciate the broad political economy of the Olympic Movement..
• Understand core sociological concerns about globalization and identity are made manifest through the Olympic Movement and Games.

Week 1 Introduction: The Olympic Movement Why should we care about the Olympic Movement? What types of organizations converge around the Olympic Movement and how should this inform our evaluation of it?

Week 2: Contextualising the Olympic Movement: Origins and Histories Readings: Girginov and Parry, Chapters 1, 2 & 3 Key Issues: Ancient Olympic Games; Modern Olympic Revival; Pierre de Coubertin; How did the Olympic Games begin some 2700 years ago in Ancient Greece? What function did they serve? What significance did they have? How were the Modern Olympic Games revived? What led to their success? Were there competing attempts to internationalize sport? What was the role of codification in making sports international contests? How did the Olympic Movement contribute to shaping sport in the 20th Century? What is the origin of the Olympic symbols? What do they convey? How does the Olympic Charter distinguish the Olympic movement from other sports-related organizations?

Week 3: Narrative & Counter Narrative: The Olympics and its Media Readings: Miah & Garcia (2008) ‘We are the Media’ Who owns the Olympic Games? The Media? The IOC? The host city? The local inhabitants? What is the role of counter-narrative institutions, such as independent protest groups or alternative media? Does the Olympics as a democratized space or a highly regulated environment? What is the function of nationhood in the Olympics? How does sponsorship function within the Olympic city

Week 4: The New Lords of the Rings: The Olympics, Corruption and Expose Journalism Readings: Girginov and Parry (2005), Chapter 6. Screening: ‘The Olympic Cash Machine’ Key issues: Corruption allegations of 1999; Salt Lake City 2002; How is the International Olympic Committee organized and administered? What kind of organization is the IOC and by what standards should they be governed and evaluated? What has been the role of journalists in revealing dubious processes of administration within the IOC? What is the relationship between the media and the IOC?

Week 5: Olympic Politics & Peace Processes Readings: Mallon (2000); Girginov & Parry, Chapter 10. Screening: One Day in September [abridged, watch in advance] Key issues: ‘London 2012, G8 and Terrorism’; Munich 1972; Berlin 1936 How have the Olympic Games been utilized as a site of Olympic political manifestations? What is the relationship between the Olympic Movement and political organizations? Should the IOC operate as an international non-governmental organization or as a corporation? How does the Olympic Movement negotiate is overt commercial foundation in combination with its broader social aspirations?

Week 6: The Olympic Games: Ceremony, Ritual, Spectacle Readings: Garcia (2001) ‘Enhancing sports marketing….’; Garcia & Miah (2002); Girginov & Parry, Chapter 13. Screening: Opening Ceremony of Torino 2006 Winter Games [abridged] Key issues: Olympic flame and torch relay; Opening and Closing Ceremonies; Olympic Oath; What is the role of ceremony within the Olympic Games? How does the media report ceremonies and what range of interpretations does it achieve? Is the Games a global experience or a locally mediated entity? What significance do the Olympic Rings have in signifying the Olympic ideals?

Week 8: Global Games: The Rise of China as Olympic Super Power Readings: Black & Bezanson (2004); Nauright (2004); Xin (2006). Screening: China’s Olympic Lie [available on You Tube] What has been the historical role of the Olympics for China? What are the key issues arising from the Beijing 2008 Games? Should the IOC take into account the political history of a nation when awarding the Games? Will China change the Olympics or will the Olympics change China? Will countries boycott the Games? How is China’s Games connected to the country’s broader economic and social development?

Week 9: Towards London 2012: Brand, Identity & Participation Readings: Miah (2007) No Go Logo?, Culture at the Olympics. How are non-commercial organizations regulated by the Olympics? What is the significance of The Olympic Bill? What narratives guided the London bid and how might these distinguish its Games from previous examples?

Week 11: The Olympic Bid Readings: Garcia and Miah (2002) and Segrave (2000); Roche (2000). How does Olympic bidding take place? What level of investment are required? What forms of equality apply? What happens to cities in the event of an unsuccessful bid?