global sporting events

• the original Olympic games were held in ancient Olympia Greece
• The modern Olympics began in Athens, Greece in 1896
• 5 key Olympics that were politicalised

  1. Berlin 1936
  2. Mexico city 1968
  3. Munich 1972
  4. Moscow 1980
  5. LA 1984
• Berlin 1936

  • Hitler aimed to use it as Nazi propaganda
  • Jesse Owens (a black sprinter) won 4 golds and broke 11 records
  • Hitler refused to put the gold medal around his neck
• Mexico City 1968

  • countries threatened to boycott this Olympics if South Africa were allowed to participate (apartheid)
  • two Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos gave black power salute on the podium
  • after the Olympics there medals were stripped off them
• Munich 1972

  • before start 8 Palestinians seized 11 members of the Israeli team
  • requested 234 Palestinians to be released in return
  • German authorities failed to reclaim any Israelis but killed 5 terrorists and injured another 3
  • IOC carried on with the Olympics
• Moscow 1980

  • Soviet Union invades Afghanistan
  • Thatcher says UK should boycott
  • Jimmy Carter (US president) also said boycott
  • 4000 out of 10000 athletes boycotted
• LA 1984

  • LA was the only bid as Montreal in 1976 was a financial failure
  • Soviet Union and eastern bloc boycotted due to the games being 'commercialised'
• pros of sport and politics being linked

  1. build bridges between nations
  2. economic boosts
  3. can bring a country together
  4. can initiate positive change
• cons of sport and politics being linked

  1. disregards Olympic values
  2. negative political agendas
  3. dangerous
  4. creates conflict
• modern Olympic games were established in 1896 by Baron Pierre de Coubertin
• the Baron was influenced by the ancient Olympics, the dover games and the development of moral, physical and intellectual abilities
• aims of modern Olympics

  • promote development of physical and moral skills
  • create international goodwill
  • bring together athletes from all across the world
  • educate through sport
• positives sporting impacts of hosting a GSE

  1. host nation often excel
  2. increase spectatorship and participation
  3. increase in funding for facilities
  4. guaranteed inclusion
• negative sporting impacts of hosting a GSE

  1. new facilities after GBE may become idle
  2. not always lasting participation impacts
  3. lesser known sports can be impacted
  4. deviance highligted
• positive social impacts of GSE

  1. money used to support local population
  2. improved sports facilities for local community
  3. transport developed
  4. more jobs and housing
• negatives social impacts of GSE

  1. other areas of country dont get improved
  2. local inhabitants may have to vacate land
• positive economic impact of GSE

  1. extra tourism
  2. more jobs
  3. increased income for local businesses
• negative economic impacts of GSE

  1. bidding can be expensive
  2. cost more than it raises (Montreal)
  3. employment is temporary
• positive political impacts of GSE

  1. political leaders gain credit
  2. brings unity to country
  3. 'shop window' for countries culture
• negative political impacts of GSE

  1. if cost is high it looks bad on political party
  2. something goes wrong it will reflect badly
  3. protests can be embarrassing