The Olympics

This book is an introduction to the Olympic movement and Games. Chapters explain how the Olympics transcend sports, engaging us with a range of contemporary philosophical, social, cultural and political matters, including: peace development and diplomacy, management and economics, corruption, terror and activism, the role of artists at the Games, the challenge from social media, the rise of human enhancement, ethics and environmentalism. This book explores the controversy and the legacy of the Olympics, drawing attention to the deeper values of Olympism, as the Olympic movement’s most valuable intellectual property. This book is essential reading for newcomers to Olympic studies and offers new insights for Olympic scholars.