The Olympics at the Millennium: Power, Politics, and the Games [Paperback]

Kay Schaffer (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"No other volume serves as a better introduction to what lies behind the media portrayals that we see on television." -- Peter Adler, department of sociology, University of Denver

"This marvelous anthology sets every category that defines the Olympics in question." -- - Margaret Morse, author of Virtualism: Television, Media Art and Cyberculture.

"This thoroughly brilliant anthology is a 'must read' for all interested in sports culture and politics." -- Ed Guerrero, cinema studies, New York University

From the Back Cover

The Olympics thrill the world with spectacle and drama. They also carry a cultural and social significance that goes beyond the stadium, athletes, and fans. The games are arenas in which individual and team athletic achievement intersect with the politics of national identity in a global context.

The Olympics at the Millennium is a groundbreaking volume on the cultural politics of the games. The contributors investigate topics from the emergence of women athletes as cultural commodities, to the orchestrated spectacles of the opening and closing ceremonies, and the alternative sports culture of the Gay Games. Unforgettable events and decisions are discussed: Native American athlete Jim Thorpe winning-and losing-his two gold medals in 1912; why the United States, unlike most countries, sent Jewish athletes to the "Nazi Olympics" in 1936; the disqualification of champion Ewa Klobukowska from competing as a woman due to chromosomal testing in 1967.

With the 2000 Sydney Games making headlines worldwide, several essays address concerns with which every host countries must contend, such as the threat of terrorism. And with the world watching, Sydney faces profound pressure to implement a successful Olympics as a matter of national pride.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Rutgers University Press (August 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813528208
• ISBN-13: 978-0813528205
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,435,868 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)