Thesis (M.A.)--Brock University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 104-116).

<p><strong>UNIVERSITY OF KALMAR - SWEDEN</strong></p><p>The institution of Social Science</p><p>Project: Master Essay 15points</p><p>Title: Olympic Games – An instrument for Environmental Political Change?</p><p> </p><p><em>-A case study exploring the Environmental Political views of the Olympic Games – with special focus on the 28th Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. </em></p><p> <strong>ABSTRACT                                                               </strong></p><p>The essay´s aim was to explore the complex political environmental opinions and opportunities to use the Olympic Games as an instrument for environmental political changes, with special focus on the 2008 summer Olympics Games in Beijing. </p><p>In the light of two environmental political theories (The Green Business and Critical Ecology Theories)  The International Olympic Committee's (The IOC) third pillar, the environment, the Beijing Olympic Committee 's motto (BOCOG) “Green Olympics” and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO:s) such as Greenpeace and their motto “Green Games” have been reviewed. The aim was to see the organisations aim to use the Beijing Olympics as a tool for environmental political changes.  </p><p>The study involves six qualitative interviews, one group interview, one written questionnaire and participating observations, during an eight week field study, during the Beijing Olympics in 2008.</p><p>The conclusion of the study demonstrates that the Olympic Games can be used as important instrument to address the organisations environmental work toward a “Greening” of Olympic cities with firstly technical measures under political control.  The Olympics are also used as an instrument to raise the environmental awareness of the public in Beijing and China.</p><p>The City of Beijing was seen as a showcase of green standards hopefully to be spread nationally. The “Greening of Olympics” is still though a complex social and scientific matter. Countries and cities have different conditions, knowledge, interests and ambitions. Universal standards are not always universally understood.</p><p> </p>

UNIVERSITY OF KALMAR - SWEDEN The institution of Social Science Project: Master Essay 15points Title: Olympic Games – An instrument for Environmental Political Change?   -A case study exploring the Environmental Political views of the Olympic Games – with special focus on the 28th Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.  ABSTRACT                                                               The essay´s aim was to explore the complex political environmental opinions and opportunities to use the Olympic Games as an instrument for environmental political changes, with special focus on the 2008 summer Olympics Games in Beijing.  In the light of two environmental political theories (The Green Business and Critical Ecology Theories)  The International Olympic Committee's (The IOC) third pillar, the environment, the Beijing Olympic Committee 's motto (BOCOG) “Green Olympics” and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO:s) such as Greenpeace and their motto “Green Games” have been reviewed. The aim was to see the organisations aim to use the Beijing Olympics as a tool for environmental political changes.   The study involves six qualitative interviews, one group interview, one written questionnaire and participating observations, during an eight week field study, during the Beijing Olympics in 2008. The conclusion of the study demonstrates that the Olympic Games can be used as important instrument to address the organisations environmental work toward a “Greening” of Olympic cities with firstly technical measures under political control.  The Olympics are also used as an instrument to raise the environmental awareness of the public in Beijing and China. The City of Beijing was seen as a showcase of green standards hopefully to be spread nationally. The “Greening of Olympics” is still though a complex social and scientific matter. Countries and cities have different conditions, knowledge, interests and ambitions. Universal standards are not always universally understood.

Specifically, this study is about the effects of culture, organisational culture and postmodernism on the Olympic Games and the perceptions of Australian Olympic athletes, both past and present and their understanding of the culture of the Olympic Games. The focus of this research examines the culture of the Olympic Games and provides insights into the background of the Games from Australian athlete's perspective. The study explores this theme further in order to understand those areas of culture which Australian athletes rarely get the opportunity to talk about and thereby offers the occasion to open new avenues for research into the culture of organisations, such as the International Olympic Committee. Furthermore, the thesis probes into the culture of the Olympic Games using the theoretical structures of Organisational Culture and Postmodernism to provide a better understanding and knowledge base for the discipline. Also, the research reports upon the athlete's perspectives in the light of the two previous theoretical structures. In spite of these previous points, little is known regarding the cultural aspects of the Olympic Games and even less is known of the culture of the Olympic Games from the athletes' perspective. Participants in an Olympic Games - athletes, officials, dignitaries, press, technicians and support personnel all experience the cultural mix of individuals at the Games first hand. However, it would certainly be of importance to understand how athletes communicate and relate to each other and how all participants within the Olympic Games organisation relate and communicate with each other. However, there is a need to acknowledge that politics exists within the Olympic Games and that its existence should be brought out of the background and placed on the agenda so that political action within the Games can be avoided in order that they might function more effectively and at a higher standard. A knowledge of culture and politics and the pitfalls and problems associated with change in the Olympic Games would support the building between individual athletes rather than allow conflict and competition to occur. This implies that, if individuals can work together without having to consider politics, then the system will benefit.

Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 118-122). Also available online in Scholars' Bank; and in ProQuest, free to University of Oregon users.

Title: The Environmental aspects of the Olympic Games Objectives: The main aim of this thesis is to explore the importace of environment within the Olympic Games. The organizational solutions summary defines the formal requirements, the real efficiency of this effort is tracked and crucial factors that influence current situation are identified. Methods: The qualitative research was based on the strategic documents content analysis. These findings are enriched by controlled interviews with members of Czech Olympic Movement. Results: The results clarify the background of environmental activities related to the Olympic Games procedures. Theoretical approach is interlinked with real outcomes which indicate to what extend is this issue taken into consideration at the sport event. Keywords: Qualitative research, environment, International Olympic C

The focus of this report is directed to the consideration of the problems related to the difference between commitment of International Olympic Committee to better environmental approach and actual environmental performance of Olympic Games which suppose to follow this commitment since the Games of the year 2002. Mostly qualitative research methodology was utilized in this study. It was based on the interviews with representatives of Greenpeace and World Wildlife Fund, the organizations which are involved in environmental assessment of Olympic Games; exploration of the environmental requirements from International Olympic Committee for carrying out Olympic Games and changes in these requirements through years; evaluation of environmental performance of the past Olympic Games which needed to follow environmental commitment. The research showed that despite continuously improvement in the requirements through years the Host Cities are still managing to fail the preparation of environmental side of the Games. The unsolved problem of still vague requirements was revealed; lack of communication between Non-Government Organizations, which actually give environmental assessment of Olympic Games, and International Olympic Committee was discovered and some political issues were discussed. After the carried work it is recommended to enforce the cooperation between Non-Government Organizations and International Olympic Committee and create common system for evaluation of environmental performance, state more clear requirements for the ecological organization of Olympic Games and change focus from environment to sustainability.

This research seeks to determine the necessary conditions for the United States to host another Olympic Games. To lay the foundation for my research, I historically trace the declining number of cities bidding for the Olympics. While exogenous factors such as political protests, terrorist acts, and boycotts contribute to a decline in the number of candidate cities from 1968 to 1984, modern disinterest in hosting the Olympics is motivated by endogenous dynamics derived from the bidding process. To determine how the bidding process affects the likelihood of hosting the Olympics and uncover the roots of successful bids, I analyze four case studies of former United States bids. These case studies include: Denver’s withdrawn bid for the 1976 Winter Olympics, Los Angeles’ successful bid for the 1984 Games, Boston’s relinquished bid for the 2024 Olympics, and consequentially, Los Angeles’ bid for the 2024 Olympics. I argue the structure of the bidding process inherently favors special interests with the most to gain from hosting the Games at the expense of the city as a whole. Stemming from the central condition of public support, I deduce six underlying conditions that are pivotal for successful bids: 1) the use of existing facilities and infrastructure; 2) absence of opposition groups; 3) private funding; 4) ‘insurance’ measures against cost overruns; 5) alignment of Olympic plans and urban development; and 6) greater use of the region. These conditions do not guarantee a successful Olympic bid, but are fundamental for the Olympic Games to return to the United States.

No description available.

Abstract: The world of sport is a world of sex segregation. This is true both for the elite sport and for amateur sport. Only a handful of sport disciplines defy this norm. Historically, this segregation had roots in discrimination, sexism and chauvinism. Today, sex segregation is justified by referencing ideals such as fairness, equality and justice. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has implemented various policies in order to promote the principle of non-discrimination and the right to participate in sports. The aim of this thesis is to understand how IOC shifts between different discourses on the topic of transwomen athletes’ participation in sport competitions and how these different discourses are used to govern and identify women and their bodies. Foucault’s theory of governmentality is applied to describe how the shift from medical discourse towards human rights discourse culminates in ambiguous and unclear policies that try to define who is a woman. Through qualitative discourse analysis of IOC documents on transgender women participation in elite sport, this thesis confirms the shift from medical discourse towards human rights discourse, which culminates in IOC unsuccessful attempts to define “woman”.