Mesmo que seja impossível determinar as origens das práticas atléticas na Grécia antiga, podemos dizer que elas existiam e faziam parte do cotidiano daquele povo naquela época, como nos demonstram as obras de Homero. Por isso, os sacerdotes daqueles antigos rituais decidiram realizar uma competição atlética para determinar quem seria incumbido de concluir o cerimonial. Eles acreditavam que nada de importante acontecia sem a interferência dos deuses, portanto, os vencedores de cada competição venciam, porque assim estava determinado pelo seu destino, tornando-os heróis, e consequentemente, escolhido dos deuses. Por isso, as origens dos principais rituais eram atribuídas aos heróis mitológicos, cuja estrutura cosmogônica de Hesíodo os coloca a um nível superior de existência. Então, além de buscar a re-atualização do gesto sagrado realizado na origem, procurando dar continuidade ao mundo tal como eles o conheciam, os cerimoniais ao mesmo tempo re-atualizavam a ação dos heróis em um momento mítico, que se confundia com a realidade. Dessa maneira, os Jogos foram a materialização desta estrutura mitológica, tendo nos heróis a consolidação desta imagem, ao mesmo tempo em que proporcionava o caráter de humanidade que lhe rendeu toda sua grandiosidade / Even that being impossible to determine the origins of the athletic practices in the ancient Greece, we can say that they exited and were part of the daily of that people at that time, as show us the Homers poetry. Therefore, the priests of those ancient rituals had decided to make an athletic competition to determine who would be charged to conclude the ceremonial. They believed that nothing of important happened without the gods interference, therefore, the winners of each competition were successful, because thus were determined by its destination, becoming heroes, and consequently, chosen by the gods. Therefore, the origins of the main rituals were attributed to the mythological heroes, whose Hesiods cosmogonic structure, place them in a superior level of existence. Then, beyond to search the reactualization of the sacred act realized at the origin, looking for to give continuity to the world as they knew the ceremonials at the same time re-actualize the heroes action at a mythical moment, that it confuse with the reality. In this way, the Games had been the materialization of that mythological structure, having in the heroes the consolidation of that image, at the same time that it provides the humanity character that relieved it all its greatness

A participação nos Jogos Olímpicos é condicionada à atuação de um comitê olímpico nacional. A criação dos referidos comitês é um fator controverso no Movimento Olímpico, uma vez que está subordinada à escolha de um representante nacional no Comitê Olímpico Internacional e que tal escolha não é democrática. Verificando a formação do esporte moderno e as características sociais que influenciaram a formação do Movimento Olímpico nacional e internacional, este trabalho visa identificar as razões que levaram o Brasil a fundar dois Comitês Olímpicos Brasileiros, e as implicações da história das entidades esportivas brasileiras nos dias de hoje. Para a realização do estudo foram consultados periódicos como o Jornal do Brasil, Jornal dos Sports, O Estado de São Paulo e Diário de São Paulo das décadas de 1910, 1920 e 1930 e também atas do Club Athletico Paulistano de 1912 a 1936, bem como o acervo da instituição. A agitação brasileira para ingresso no Movimento Olímpico inicia-se em 1912 e é influenciada pelo Comitê Olímpico Português e pelo caráter oligárquico do COI. A fundação do segundo COB em 1935 é marcada pela institucionalização das entidades esportivas e a conseqüente disputa pela representação das modalidades / The participation in the Olympic Games is conditioned to the existence of a National Olympic Committee. The creation of these committees is a controversial aspect in the Olympic Movement since it is subjected to the choice of a national delegate for the International Olympic Committee, and that this choice is not democratic. Investigating the modern sport formation and the social characteristics that have influenced national and international Olympic Movement foundations, this research aims to identify the reasons that led Brazil to create two Brazilian Olympic Committees, and the implications of the brazilian sportive organization history in the present days. The references for the study were newspapers such as \"Jornal do Brasil\", \"Jornal dos Sports\", \"O Estado de São Paulo\" and \"Diário de São Paulo\" from the 1910\'s, 1920\'s and 1930\'s, and the files and manager board acts from Club Athletico Paulistano. The brazilian progress trough the Olympic Movement starts in 1912 and received a major Portuguese influence by its Olympic members, and also by the oligarchic nature of the IOC. The second BOC foundation in 1935 is marked by brazilian sports institutionalization and the resulting disputes for different sports representation

A participação nos Jogos Olímpicos é condicionada à atuação de um comitê olímpico nacional. A criação dos referidos comitês é um fator controverso no Movimento Olímpico, uma vez que está subordinada à escolha de um representante nacional no Comitê Olímpico Internacional e que tal escolha não é democrática. Verificando a formação do esporte moderno e as características sociais que influenciaram a formação do Movimento Olímpico nacional e internacional, este trabalho visa identificar as razões que levaram o Brasil a fundar dois Comitês Olímpicos Brasileiros, e as implicações da história das entidades esportivas brasileiras nos dias de hoje. Para a realização do estudo foram consultados periódicos como o Jornal do Brasil, Jornal dos Sports, O Estado de São Paulo e Diário de São Paulo das décadas de 1910, 1920 e 1930 e também atas do Club Athletico Paulistano de 1912 a 1936, bem como o acervo da instituição. A agitação brasileira para ingresso no Movimento Olímpico inicia-se em 1912 e é influenciada pelo Comitê Olímpico Português e pelo caráter oligárquico do COI. A fundação do segundo COB em 1935 é marcada pela institucionalização das entidades esportivas e a conseqüente disputa pela representação das modalidades / The participation in the Olympic Games is conditioned to the existence of a National Olympic Committee. The creation of these committees is a controversial aspect in the Olympic Movement since it is subjected to the choice of a national delegate for the International Olympic Committee, and that this choice is not democratic. Investigating the modern sport formation and the social characteristics that have influenced national and international Olympic Movement foundations, this research aims to identify the reasons that led Brazil to create two Brazilian Olympic Committees, and the implications of the brazilian sportive organization history in the present days. The references for the study were newspapers such as \"Jornal do Brasil\", \"Jornal dos Sports\", \"O Estado de São Paulo\" and \"Diário de São Paulo\" from the 1910\'s, 1920\'s and 1930\'s, and the files and manager board acts from Club Athletico Paulistano. The brazilian progress trough the Olympic Movement starts in 1912 and received a major Portuguese influence by its Olympic members, and also by the oligarchic nature of the IOC. The second BOC foundation in 1935 is marked by brazilian sports institutionalization and the resulting disputes for different sports representation

Mesmo que seja impossível determinar as origens das práticas atléticas na Grécia antiga, podemos dizer que elas existiam e faziam parte do cotidiano daquele povo naquela época, como nos demonstram as obras de Homero. Por isso, os sacerdotes daqueles antigos rituais decidiram realizar uma competição atlética para determinar quem seria incumbido de concluir o cerimonial. Eles acreditavam que nada de importante acontecia sem a interferência dos deuses, portanto, os vencedores de cada competição venciam, porque assim estava determinado pelo seu destino, tornando-os heróis, e consequentemente, escolhido dos deuses. Por isso, as origens dos principais rituais eram atribuídas aos heróis mitológicos, cuja estrutura cosmogônica de Hesíodo os coloca a um nível superior de existência. Então, além de buscar a re-atualização do gesto sagrado realizado na origem, procurando dar continuidade ao mundo tal como eles o conheciam, os cerimoniais ao mesmo tempo re-atualizavam a ação dos heróis em um momento mítico, que se confundia com a realidade. Dessa maneira, os Jogos foram a materialização desta estrutura mitológica, tendo nos heróis a consolidação desta imagem, ao mesmo tempo em que proporcionava o caráter de humanidade que lhe rendeu toda sua grandiosidade / Even that being impossible to determine the origins of the athletic practices in the ancient Greece, we can say that they exited and were part of the daily of that people at that time, as show us the Homers poetry. Therefore, the priests of those ancient rituals had decided to make an athletic competition to determine who would be charged to conclude the ceremonial. They believed that nothing of important happened without the gods interference, therefore, the winners of each competition were successful, because thus were determined by its destination, becoming heroes, and consequently, chosen by the gods. Therefore, the origins of the main rituals were attributed to the mythological heroes, whose Hesiods cosmogonic structure, place them in a superior level of existence. Then, beyond to search the reactualization of the sacred act realized at the origin, looking for to give continuity to the world as they knew the ceremonials at the same time re-actualize the heroes action at a mythical moment, that it confuse with the reality. In this way, the Games had been the materialization of that mythological structure, having in the heroes the consolidation of that image, at the same time that it provides the humanity character that relieved it all its greatness

O esporte contemporâneo tem nos Jogos Olímpicos o seu maior evento e sua evolução na Era Moderna aconteceu quase que completamente durante o Século XX. Os boicotes às edições dos Jogos Olímpicos são manifestações que exemplificam as relações políticas presentes no esporte e seu estudo é bastante esclarecedor. O maior boicote ocorrido foi proposto pelos Estados Unidos em 1980, aos Jogos realizados na extinta União Soviética. Na ocasião houve grande redução no número de participantes e um abalo nas estruturas do Movimento Olímpico. O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar o contexto político do boicote aos Jogos de Moscou, sobretudo no que diz respeito ao posicionamento do Brasil. Para a realização do estudo foi selecionado um dos principais jornais brasileiros (Folha de São Paulo) e dele se retirou os dados que vão o desde a segunda quinzena do mês de dezembro de 1979, com a ocupação soviética do Afeganistão (23/12/1979), até a primeira quinzena do mês de agosto de 1980, encerramento dos Jogos Olímpicos de Moscou (03/08/1980). Embora o Brasil desenvolvesse uma posição de alinhamento à política norte-americana na Guerra Fria, optou por não aderir ao boicote comercial, nem ao olímpico enviando uma grande delegação a Moscou. O governo militar brasileiro agiu de maneira pragmática preferindo lucrar com a ausência de norte-americanos e europeus tanto no campo comercial quanto esportivo / The Olympic Games is the biggest event in contemporary sports and the 20th century was the stage where most of the evolution of the Olympic Games of The Modern Age happened. The boycotts to the Olympic Games are manifestations that exemplify the relationship between sport and politics and studying it brings light to the subject. To this day, the biggest boycott was the one that the United States promoted against the Soviet Union in the 1980 Olympic Games. In that occurrence there were a significant reduction in the number of participants as well as a profound impact to the Olympic Movement structures. The purpose of these research is to analyse the politic context of the Moscow`s Olympic Boycott, with special attention for the brazilian position. The research was made in one of the most important brazilian newspapers (Folha de São Paulo), in the final editions of 1979, period of the sovietic occupation on Afghanistan, until august of 1980, period of the end of Moscow Olympic Games. In spite of the pressure from the United States, Brazil decided not to join the boycott, exposing an internal movement that the country was going through, which was a period of delicate economical issues, and the country was not capable of deny the economical advantages of relation with Soviet Union

This Thesis undertakes a leverage analysis of mega-events in the context of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. A leverage analysis apparently different from a impact analysis; it focuses on how to maximize the potential positive impacts and minimize the negative impacts for an event that will be held in the future. To analyze the circumstance of the Beijing Olympics that are amendable to leveraging, the research methodology employed is empirical with method of semi-structured in-depth interviews with the government officials, tourism industry people and the local community members in Beijing. This thesis research conducted a leveraging analysis from three perspectives: environmental, socio-cultural, and tourism/economic perspectives. From each perspective, four angles would be investigated: identifying the potential impacts of 2008 Olympics; determining the leveraging activities for the potential impacts; uncovering the opportunities for leveraging the potential impacts, and exploring the challenges in leveraging the potential impacts. Because there is not any existing theory on a leverage analysis in the context of Beijing Olympic Games, this research was conducted with the guidance of "grounded theory". The research indicated that the government aims to take use of the opportunity of hosting the "Green Olympics" to reap the ambition of making Beijing into a "greener" city, but how long would the policies last when the games are over is essential for the effectiveness. Similarly, the socio-culture would be leveraged by implementing the "People's Olympic" theme. Finally, the tourism in Beijing would be leveraged by a series of leveraging activities derived form the Olympic Games. The findings of this thesis research will contribute to the event studies and the leveraging studies.

This thesis is a biographical case study of Olympic, World and Commonwealth sculling champion Peter Antonie, whose career at the elite or high performance level spanned some 23 years � from 1977 to 2000. The thesis examines the exploits of an oarsman and sculler regarded within his sport as one of Australia�s greatest ever, despite his being considered physically disadvantaged at every phase of his career. Antonie was, most notably, a man of small stature � widely considered a handicap at the level of rowing to which he aspired, and at which he ultimately succeeded. The study also examines what it was, despite those perceived disadvantages, that drove him to excel. The thesis further examines, in thematic form, parallel developments within Australian rowing and sculling in the quarter of a century in which Peter Antonie competed. This was a period during which fundamental changes were seen in Australian sport, notably in the areas of funding and administration, and which saw a transformation from amateur to professional participation at the Olympic, Commonwealth Games and world championships levels. There were also marked changes to high performance rowing as a result of technological advances that produced new types of equipment, and scientific developments that brought new training and selection methodologies. The research was carried out as part of a systematic attempt to examine and investigate Peter Antonie�s reputation, particularly as it compares with his better-known contemporaries, the so-called Oarsome Foursome, and to analyse that reputation in light of the administrative developments in Australian rowing and Australian sport. The historical approach used was the biographical method of research and analysis, with the preferred technique the obtaining of oral testimony from 50 interviewees, some of whom were interviewed more than once. The research clearly indicated that throughout his career Peter Antonie continually defied assumptions about his potential, particularly where science-based preconceptions about talent identification were concerned, and achieved success far beyond initial expectations. As a result his achievements, nationally and globally, are perhaps unparalleled, and he is held in the highest regard, particularly by the higher profile Oarsome Foursome. Despite this accolade, however, Antonie�s public profile remains very low, to the extent that beyond the rowing fraternity he is virtually unknown. Despite, too, rowing�s status as an Olympic sport and the commensurate increases in funding during Antonie�s career, he himself maintains a fundamentally amateur approach to his participation in rowing and is critical of several facets of its current �professional� administration. Despite, too, rowing and sculling once being among Australia�s major sports a hundred or so years ago, within contemporary Australian society it has a low profile, a situation which, given that current administration, appears likely to continue. Problems encountered during the research included some diffidence on the part of an essentially humble and self-effacing subject and a lack of literature relating to Antonie and his sport. But these were to an extent offset by the enthusiasm displayed for the project by other interviewees. The results of the research are significant in that, like the subject, they defy some precepts concerning facets of Australian rowing and sculling, which in turn might encourage further investigation.

The testimonios of three Canadian women athletes and the 1980 Olympic boycott are presented. The Latin American method of testimonio is adapted as a framework for understanding personal stories. Testimonios written in a series of interpretive narratives and poems--poetic testimonios--represent three women's voices. This study includes three journeys: the research journey, a journey of self-discovery, and the journeys of three women athletes. Distinct and collective voices are highlighted. An analysis of writing forms used is offered. A traditional literature review and a section linking the study's findings to the literature are available in the appendices. Testimonios are methods of resistance, and, thus, imply an appeal to matters of social justice. Therefore, "a call to action" invites researchers, counselors, and sport professionals to take a closer look at the oppressive system of high-performance sport and contemplate structural change. Beyond this, the ultimate worth of the project is for readers to decide. / Graduation date: 2002

This dissertation focuses on American women and the modern summer Olympic Games. It retraces the history of women's participation in this significant and global sporting event to study the obstacles generated by social, economic, political, and cultural gender patterns while providing a forum for female Olympians to give voice to their journeys and how they dealt with and eventually overcame some of these obstacles. The findings herein support other scholarly works, arguing that despite progress, the Olympic Games, and by extension the institution of sport in general, is and will remain a hegemonic space that allows men to maintain and reinforce their dominant position in society. It does show, however, that even though this global athletic event did not, at the collective level, result in an egalitarian redefinition of gender roles, the benefits of training and participating in the Olympics remain indisputable for the women involved--benefits no different than these enjoyed by male athletes. The Olympic Games, then, empowers women as it simultaneously reinforces their position of subordination.

The purpose of this study was to understand the governance of Olympic Games legacy. Legacy is broadly described as “all planned and unplanned, positive and negative, intangible and tangible structures created by and for a sport event that remain for a longer time than the event itself” (Preuss, 2007a, p. 86). The specific objectives of this study were: a) to map the historical evolution of legacy throughout the modern Olympic Movement (OM) (i.e., 1896-current day) in order to contextualize and conceptualize the major trends (e.g., changes in legacy, network actors/stakeholders, governance structures and processes) over time; b) to understand, explain, and compare/contrast the network governance of Olympic legacy, using Australian and Canadian case settings; and c) to critically analyze the overall structure and process of the governance of legacy within the OM focusing specifically on the aspects of performance, transparency, accountability, and participation to build a framework and provide policy recommendations for the governance of legacy in mega-events. In order to accomplish these objectives, a historical review of legacy within the OM and two descriptive case studies (Sydney 2000 and Vancouver 2010) were built using interviews and archival materials. Findings showed how the growth of the Games has culminated in the increased use and importance of legacy, leading to greater concept complexity. This resulted in the emergence of several trends including: new legacy themes, heightened interconnectedness, and formalization of governance mechanisms. Institutional theory was then applied to further explore the emergence of legacy and its habitualization, objectification, and sedimentation as an accepted norm in the Olympic Field. The examination of the legacy governance networks in the two cases showed four legacy network governance phases: legacy conceptualization, legacy planning and implementation, legacy transfer, and post-Games legacy governance, as well as a number of governance mechanisms (e.g., contracts, policies) that had an impact on the overall governance of the event’s legacy. Finally, a critical analysis of the governance of Olympic Games legacy was completed. The end result of the research project was a theoretical framework detailing the levels and fluidity of legacy governance in the OM.