27103 Olympic Games and Mega Events

Subject level: Undergraduate

Handbook description

The Olympic Games is a significant phenomenon in contemporary sport, tourism and culture with a growing research literature. This subject covers the cultural, sociological, economic and media impacts on the Games, the philosophy of Olympism and impacts of the Sydney 2000 event.

Subject objectives/outcomes

On successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. discuss the origins and history of the ancient and modern Olympic Games and movement
2. critically analyse the issues which have affected the modern Olympic Games
3. evaluate and appraise the social and economic impacts of the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

Contribution to graduate profile

The Olympic Games are one of the world's most influential sporting events. With Sydney having hosted the Games in 2000 the popularity and level of interest surrounding the event has continued to grow. This elective subject provides an understanding of the Games examining its significance to society, culture, economies and the environment.

Teaching and learning strategies

Teaching and learning strategies include; field trips, guest lectures, student presentations, tutorials and formal lectures. Content for this subject will be supported by UTSOnline.

Content

• The Ancient Games
• The commercialisation of the Olympics
• The marketing of the Olympics
• Project planning and the Olympic Games
• The social impact of hosting an Olympic Games
• The economic impact of hosting the Olympic Games
• The Olympic Games and sporting legacies

Assessment

Assessment item 1: Olympic Seminar (Group)

Assessment item 2: Olympic Paper (Individual)

Assessment item 3: Final Exam (Individual)

Required text(s)

Toohey, K., & Veal, K. (2007). The Olympic Games: A Social Science Perspective (Second Edition). Oxfordshire: CABI

Recommended text(s)

Recommended journals are:

European Sport Management Quarterly

Football Studies

International Journal of Sport Management

International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing

Journal of Sport Management

Managing Leisure

Olympika

Sport Management Review (Australia)

Sport Marketing Quarterly

Sporting Traditions

Indicative references

Ammon, R., Southall, R., & Blair, D. (2004). Sport Facility Management: Organizing Events and Mitigating Risks. Morgantown, WV: Fitness Information Technology Incorporated.

Bairner, A. (2001). Sport, Nationalism, and Globalization: European and North American perspectives. Albany; [Great Britain]: State University of New York Press.

Bale, J., & Cronin, M. (2002) Sport and Post-colonialism. Oxford: Berg.

Bale, J. (2003). Sports Geography (Second ed.). New York: Routledge.

Beech, J., & Chadwick, S. (2004). The Business of Sport Management. Essex: Prentice Hall.

Cashmore, E., & Cashmore, E. (2000). Making sense of sports (3rd ed.). London: Routledge.

Coakley, J. J. (1998). Sport in society: issues and controversies (6th ed.). Boston, Mass.: Irwin/McGraw-Hill.

Gordon, H. (2003). The Time of Our Lives: Inside the Sydney Olympics. St. Lucia, QLD: Queensland University Press.

Gordon, H. (1994). Australia and the Olympic Games. St. Lucia, QLD.: Queensland University Press.

Frawley, S., & Toohey, K. (2005). Shaping Sport Competition: The SOCOG Sports Commission and the Planning and Delivery of Sport at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. In D. Adair, B. Coe & N. Guoth (Eds.), Beyond the Torch: Olympics and Australian Culture. Melbourne: ASSH Publications.

Greenberg, J., & Knight, G. (2004). Framing Sweatshops: Nike, Global Production, and the American News Media. Communication and Critical / Cultural Studies, 1(2), 151-175.

Maguire, J. A. (1999). Global sport: Identities, Societies, Civilizations. Cambridge, UK Malden, MA: Polity Press; Blackwell Publishers.

Maguire, J., Jarvie, G., Mansfield, L., & Bradley. J. (2002). Sport Worlds: A Sociological Perspective. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Masterman, G. (2004). Strategic Sports Event Management. Oxford: Elsevier.

Miller, T., Rowe, D., Lawrence, G., & McKay, J. (2001). Globalization and Sport: Playing the World. London: Sage.

Moragas Spa, M. D., Kennett, C., Puig, N., & International Olympic Committee. (2003). The legacy of the Olympic Games 1984-2000 : International Symposium, Lausanne, 14th, 15th and 16th November 2002. Lausanne: International Olympic Committee.

Payne, M. (2006). Olympic turnaround: how the Olympic Games stepped back from the brink of extinction to become the world's best known brand. Westport, Conn.: Praeger Publishers.

Preuss, H. (2000). Economics of the Olympic Games : hosting the games 1972-2000. Sydney: Walla Walla Press in conjunction with the Centre for Olympic Studies, University of New South Wales.

Roche, M. (2000). Mega-events and modernity : Olympics and Expos in the growth of global culture. London: Routledge.

Toohey, K., & Veal, A. J. (2000). The Olympic Games: A Social Science Perspective. Wallingford, Oxon, UK: CABI Publishing.

Toohey, K., Taylor, T., & Lee, C. K. (2003). The FIFA World Cup 2002: The Effects of Terrorism on Sport Tourists. Journal of Sport Tourism, 8(3), 167-185.

Wenner, L. A. (1998). Mediasport. London ; New York: Routledge.

Westerbeek, H., & Smith, A. (2002). Sport business in the global marketplace. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.