Chapter 13
Sports and Politics – Part 2
How Do Governments and
Global Processes Influence Sports?
Olympism and the Olympic Games
Are they special?
To answer this question we must look at the ideals and the realities of the Olympic Games, and determine if they meet or can be changed to meet the ideals.
From the Olympic Charter:
“Olympism is a ________________ of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport with ___________ and ____________, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental _____________ principles.”
The Olympic Games: How to control nationalism and commercialism
Suggestions include the following that could be debated. What are your thoughts on the following recommendations by Coakley?
1.Eliminate national ________________
2.Revise the opening ceremonies to highlight _____________, not nations
3.Eliminate national ____________and ____________ during awards ceremonies
4.Eliminate medal __________ for nations
5._________________ or revise team sports
6.Add to the games “__________________ sports” that are native to different cultural regions around the world
7.Use multiple _______ for each Olympics
8.Emphasize global responsibility in media coverage and ________________
9.Provide TV time to ___________ ___________ groups that work with athletes and sport organizations to promote social justice
10.Integrate the Olympics and ________________
OVERALL GOAL: Take Olympism seriously; make the Olympics more than a global marketing opportunity for corporations and a global stage for __________ nations to promote their ideologies
Political realities in an era of transnational corporations
Nation-states and transnational corporations are joined in global power relations.
Nationalism exists in international sports, but _________________ may replace patriotism when it comes to identifying with athletes and teams.
Corporations tend to use sports to “fuse” their ______________ with national and local ____________ with which people identify.
The Olympics and other international sport events are ____________ for transnational corporations, their products, and the ideology of _________________.
Corporations pay billions to sponsor ____________ sports so they might develop “global outposts” in people’s heads.
Corporate images tied to sports do not determine what people will think, but they _______________ what people will think about.
Sports and global political issues --- Consider some of these issues of concern:
Athletes as global migrant workers. Raises issues of personal adjustment, labor rights, national impact of talent migration, and national identity
The production of sport equipment and apparel
Raises issues of international labor ____________ and the need for international _________ _________ organizations and monitors
Making sense of new political realities
As the meaning, organization, and purpose of sports have changed, there are new questions to be asked about sports as social phenomena.
The most helpful research on the realities of global trends has presented data from both global and local levels.
This helps us understand local _____________ of and responses to global processes.
Political processes in sports revolve around these issues:
1._____________________________?
2._____________________________?
3._____________________________?
4._____________________________?
5._____________________________?
6._____________________________?
7._____________________________?
Conclusion: Politics and political processes are inherent in organized sports; our goal is to make them fair and just.