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The International Olympics Committee (IOC) has consistently positioned itself as against the politicization of sport. In The Olympic Charter, the IOC declares that it has a mission “to oppose any political or commercial abuse of sport and athletes.” However, this has consistently not been the case. Countries like China have used hosting the games to showcase state power. Winning in the Olympics is a way to increase international prestige. Individual athletes have used the games as a platform for protests. There have been diplomatic boycotts of adversarial countries. So, how do international politics play into sporting events like the Olympics? How can sports be a tool for cultural relations? How do the 2024 Olympic games reflect current geopolitical trends? Join us for a conversation with Dr. Sarah Hillyer, Founder & Director of the Center for Sport, Peace & Society at the University of Tennessee, and Dr. Susan Brownell, Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Anthropology at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Music by Musictown from Pixabay
Music by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay
