This thesis attempts to explore the discursive construction of Olympic ideology in the 2008 Torch Relay news coverage by the British and the Chinese media. It applies a corpus-based Discourse-Historical Approach in Critical Discourse Analysis (DHA-CDA) to analyse how and why the complexity, contradiction and conflicts in linguistic interpretations of Olympism are demonstrated by the media discourse between East and West. This study first focuses on the underpinning ideology and the study of the media, considering the historical development of Olympic ideology (Olympism) along with the respective mainstream ideologies in Britain (Liberalism) and China (Harmony), as well as the philosophical foundations and prominence of CDA. It then draws on the elaborated analytical approach-corpus-based CDA-in detail to analyse four specially constructed corpora drawn from the China Daily, BBC News and The Guardian. Thereafter corpus techniques including frequency and concordance analysis are applied and results obtained that reveal comparative differences and diachronic shifts across the corpora. Having first described the data, they are then interpreted in their linguistic contexts, and subsequently explained in the broader historical and socio-political contexts surrounding the dynamic life of the Olympic Torch Relay. This study demonstrates that there are contrasting expressions of Olympic ideology in the media discourse of the two countries. At a deeper level, this social practice is revealed to be dominated by the mainstream ideologies of the hosting and participating nations, which have been entrenched throughout their respective histories. The involvement of Britain and China in Olympic history and the relevant socio-political events surrounding the 2008 Torch Relay are explored in order to inform our analysis. The conclusion to this thesis reinforces its significant contribution to the study of Olympism. The Olympic philosophy of integrating diversified ideologies was certainly not manifest in the confrontation between the eastern and western media in 2008. Liberalism and harmony had never confronted each other face to face on the world stage before or attempted to find a common ground on which to coexist as revealed in this study. Based on this, respect for and tolerance of diverse ideology, history and culture will hopefully promote the solidarity and prosperity represented by Olympism in the new era.

A ‘Corrida de Revezamento do Fogo Simbólico da Pátria’ – CFS – é uma prática cultural que marca o início das comemorações da ‘Semana da Pátria’ em Porto Alegre no final da década de 1930. A partir de 1938, a CFS foi editada anualmente pela Liga de Defesa Nacional (LDN) com o apoio de dirigentes esportivos porto-alegrenses. Foram esses dirigentes que idealizaram a CFS em Porto Alegre, após assistirem a “Corrida de Revezamento da Chama Olímpica” na cerimônia de abertura dos Jogos Olímpicos de Berlim em 1936. Este estudo busca compreender a participação dos clubes esportivos porto-alegrenses na construção de representações da identidade nacional brasileira através da invenção da ‘Corrida de Revezamento do Fogo Simbólico da Pátria’ no período de 1938 a 1947. Para tanto, utilizaram-se fontes impressas e orais. As fontes impressas primárias se restringem aos documentos e obras da LDN; entre as principais fontes impressas secundárias estão a Revista do Globo e o jornal Correio do Povo. Foram realizadas duas entrevistas que constituem as fontes orais. A Corrida de Revezamento do Fogo Simbólico da Pátria (1938-1947) foi uma tradição inventada em Porto Alegre, institucionalizada pela LDN com o apoio social feito pelos clubes esportivos. A justificativa de sua realização se deu através de ligações históricosagradas e sua fixação através da repetição anual nas cidades. A CFS buscava engendrar ‘valores’, associados à construção da identidade nacional brasileira. Dessa forma produziu no imaginário porto-alegrense a representação de coesão e unidade nacional em razão do formato de percorrer a nação e ter como ponto de culminância sempre a cidade de Porto Alegre. No contexto esportivo, produziu a representação de que os clubes esportivos identificados como ‘estrangeiros’ foram ‘abrasileirados’ devido à participação de dirigentes esportivos e atletas na CFS. / The 'Nation Torch Relay' – NTR – it is a cultural practice that marks the beginning of the celebrations from 'Nation’s Week’ in Porto Alegre city by the 1930's end. From 1938, the NTR has annually been edited by the National Defense League (NDL) with portoalegrenses sports leaders support. There were those leaders who idealized the NTR in Porto Alegre, after they watched the "Olympic Torch Relay" at Berlin Olympic Games opening ceremony in 1936. This study aims to understand the participation of portoalegrenses sports clubs in the construction of representations from the Brazilian national identity through the invention of the 'Nation Torch Relay' in the period from 1938 to 1947. For this purpose, printed and oral sources were used. The printed primary sources are limited to NDL’s documents and works; among the main printed secondary sources are Globo’s Magazine and Correio do Povo newspaper. There were two interviews, which are the oral sources. The ‘Nation Torch Relay’ (1938-1947) was an invented tradition in Porto Alegre city, institutionalized by NDL with social support from the city’s sports clubs. The justification of its achievement was made by historical and sacred’s links and its fixation through annual repetition in the cities. The NTR aimed to pass 'values'; and they were associated to the construction of Brazilian national identity. Thus, it produced in the porto-alegrense imagination, the representation of national cohesion and unity because of the way it roams about the nation and has as a point of culmination Porto Alegre city. In the sports context, it produced the representation that sports clubs identified, as 'foreigners', were 'adopted Brazilian ways and manners' due to athletes and sports leaders participation in the NTR.

A ‘Corrida de Revezamento do Fogo Simbólico da Pátria’ – CFS – é uma prática cultural que marca o início das comemorações da ‘Semana da Pátria’ em Porto Alegre no final da década de 1930. A partir de 1938, a CFS foi editada anualmente pela Liga de Defesa Nacional (LDN) com o apoio de dirigentes esportivos porto-alegrenses. Foram esses dirigentes que idealizaram a CFS em Porto Alegre, após assistirem a “Corrida de Revezamento da Chama Olímpica” na cerimônia de abertura dos Jogos Olímpicos de Berlim em 1936. Este estudo busca compreender a participação dos clubes esportivos porto-alegrenses na construção de representações da identidade nacional brasileira através da invenção da ‘Corrida de Revezamento do Fogo Simbólico da Pátria’ no período de 1938 a 1947. Para tanto, utilizaram-se fontes impressas e orais. As fontes impressas primárias se restringem aos documentos e obras da LDN; entre as principais fontes impressas secundárias estão a Revista do Globo e o jornal Correio do Povo. Foram realizadas duas entrevistas que constituem as fontes orais. A Corrida de Revezamento do Fogo Simbólico da Pátria (1938-1947) foi uma tradição inventada em Porto Alegre, institucionalizada pela LDN com o apoio social feito pelos clubes esportivos. A justificativa de sua realização se deu através de ligações históricosagradas e sua fixação através da repetição anual nas cidades. A CFS buscava engendrar ‘valores’, associados à construção da identidade nacional brasileira. Dessa forma produziu no imaginário porto-alegrense a representação de coesão e unidade nacional em razão do formato de percorrer a nação e ter como ponto de culminância sempre a cidade de Porto Alegre. No contexto esportivo, produziu a representação de que os clubes esportivos identificados como ‘estrangeiros’ foram ‘abrasileirados’ devido à participação de dirigentes esportivos e atletas na CFS. / The 'Nation Torch Relay' – NTR – it is a cultural practice that marks the beginning of the celebrations from 'Nation’s Week’ in Porto Alegre city by the 1930's end. From 1938, the NTR has annually been edited by the National Defense League (NDL) with portoalegrenses sports leaders support. There were those leaders who idealized the NTR in Porto Alegre, after they watched the "Olympic Torch Relay" at Berlin Olympic Games opening ceremony in 1936. This study aims to understand the participation of portoalegrenses sports clubs in the construction of representations from the Brazilian national identity through the invention of the 'Nation Torch Relay' in the period from 1938 to 1947. For this purpose, printed and oral sources were used. The printed primary sources are limited to NDL’s documents and works; among the main printed secondary sources are Globo’s Magazine and Correio do Povo newspaper. There were two interviews, which are the oral sources. The ‘Nation Torch Relay’ (1938-1947) was an invented tradition in Porto Alegre city, institutionalized by NDL with social support from the city’s sports clubs. The justification of its achievement was made by historical and sacred’s links and its fixation through annual repetition in the cities. The NTR aimed to pass 'values'; and they were associated to the construction of Brazilian national identity. Thus, it produced in the porto-alegrense imagination, the representation of national cohesion and unity because of the way it roams about the nation and has as a point of culmination Porto Alegre city. In the sports context, it produced the representation that sports clubs identified, as 'foreigners', were 'adopted Brazilian ways and manners' due to athletes and sports leaders participation in the NTR.

A ‘Corrida de Revezamento do Fogo Simbólico da Pátria’ – CFS – é uma prática cultural que marca o início das comemorações da ‘Semana da Pátria’ em Porto Alegre no final da década de 1930. A partir de 1938, a CFS foi editada anualmente pela Liga de Defesa Nacional (LDN) com o apoio de dirigentes esportivos porto-alegrenses. Foram esses dirigentes que idealizaram a CFS em Porto Alegre, após assistirem a “Corrida de Revezamento da Chama Olímpica” na cerimônia de abertura dos Jogos Olímpicos de Berlim em 1936. Este estudo busca compreender a participação dos clubes esportivos porto-alegrenses na construção de representações da identidade nacional brasileira através da invenção da ‘Corrida de Revezamento do Fogo Simbólico da Pátria’ no período de 1938 a 1947. Para tanto, utilizaram-se fontes impressas e orais. As fontes impressas primárias se restringem aos documentos e obras da LDN; entre as principais fontes impressas secundárias estão a Revista do Globo e o jornal Correio do Povo. Foram realizadas duas entrevistas que constituem as fontes orais. A Corrida de Revezamento do Fogo Simbólico da Pátria (1938-1947) foi uma tradição inventada em Porto Alegre, institucionalizada pela LDN com o apoio social feito pelos clubes esportivos. A justificativa de sua realização se deu através de ligações históricosagradas e sua fixação através da repetição anual nas cidades. A CFS buscava engendrar ‘valores’, associados à construção da identidade nacional brasileira. Dessa forma produziu no imaginário porto-alegrense a representação de coesão e unidade nacional em razão do formato de percorrer a nação e ter como ponto de culminância sempre a cidade de Porto Alegre. No contexto esportivo, produziu a representação de que os clubes esportivos identificados como ‘estrangeiros’ foram ‘abrasileirados’ devido à participação de dirigentes esportivos e atletas na CFS. / The 'Nation Torch Relay' – NTR – it is a cultural practice that marks the beginning of the celebrations from 'Nation’s Week’ in Porto Alegre city by the 1930's end. From 1938, the NTR has annually been edited by the National Defense League (NDL) with portoalegrenses sports leaders support. There were those leaders who idealized the NTR in Porto Alegre, after they watched the "Olympic Torch Relay" at Berlin Olympic Games opening ceremony in 1936. This study aims to understand the participation of portoalegrenses sports clubs in the construction of representations from the Brazilian national identity through the invention of the 'Nation Torch Relay' in the period from 1938 to 1947. For this purpose, printed and oral sources were used. The printed primary sources are limited to NDL’s documents and works; among the main printed secondary sources are Globo’s Magazine and Correio do Povo newspaper. There were two interviews, which are the oral sources. The ‘Nation Torch Relay’ (1938-1947) was an invented tradition in Porto Alegre city, institutionalized by NDL with social support from the city’s sports clubs. The justification of its achievement was made by historical and sacred’s links and its fixation through annual repetition in the cities. The NTR aimed to pass 'values'; and they were associated to the construction of Brazilian national identity. Thus, it produced in the porto-alegrense imagination, the representation of national cohesion and unity because of the way it roams about the nation and has as a point of culmination Porto Alegre city. In the sports context, it produced the representation that sports clubs identified, as 'foreigners', were 'adopted Brazilian ways and manners' due to athletes and sports leaders participation in the NTR.