Understanding the Olympics

<p>How did the Olympics evolve into a multi-national phenomenon? How can the Olympics help us to understand the relationship between sport and society? What will be the impact and legacy of the Olympics after Tokyo in 2020? <em>Understanding the Olympics</em> answers all these questions by exploring the social cultural political historical and economic context of the Games. </p> <p>This thoroughly revised and updated edition discusses recent attempts at future proofing by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in the face of growing global anti-Olympic activism the changing geo-political context within which the Olympics take place and the Olympic histories of the next three cities to host the Games - Tokyo (2020) Paris (2024) and Los Angeles (2028) - as well as the legacy of the London (2012) Olympics. For the first time this new edition introduces the reader to the emergence of 'other Games' associated with the IOC - the Winter Olympics the Paralympics and the Youth Olympics. It also features a full Olympic history timeline many new photographs refreshed suggestions for further reading and revised illustrations. </p> <p>The most up-to-date and authoritative textbook available on the Olympic Games <em>Understanding the Olympics</em> is essential reading for anybody with an interest in the Olympics or the wider relationship between sport and society.</p>