Olimpianos - Journal of Olympic Studies

The imaginary structure of defeat In sport

Katia Rubio — Sat, 14 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Defeat is for sport like the social shadow that hangs over what is refuted in a productivist world such as sadness, depression, withdrawal, stillness, silence and other forms of subjectivation that escape frenzy. As a discursive practice, defeat is accompanied by adjectives that refer to what must be refuted, prevented or even denied, since no athlete trains and competes with the intention of losing. In the structure of contemporary sport, the reproduction of the liberal model that favors victory can be observed. This often leads the silver and bronze medal winner to feel defeated, denying a feat worthy of historical record. The ramifications of defeat are not sufficiently studied, which contributes to an attitude of denial in relation to this situation on the part of both athletes and professionals who work in the sports universe. On the other hand, certain dimensions of the collective imagination referring to the content of sport, that is, socially shared productions, tend to relate the athlete and the spectacular figure of the hero. The objective of this work is to present a discussion about the imaginary of defeat in contemporary sport, as well as to present some categories that classify adverse outcomes, thus seeking to contribute to the understanding of this complex phenomenon.

E-sports and Olympic Games: a journalistic criticism

Sat, 21 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

E-sports can be considered a current sporting phenomenon, as they have gone through several historical processes, transformations, ruptures, continuities and discontinuities from the second half of the 20th century onwards. That said, the research had as general objective to understand the possibility of E-sports being inserted in the Olympic Games, thus, positive and negative nods on this issue were debated with a contemporary journalistic article. The study had specific objectives: i) to contextualize Esports; ii) present concepts, degree of popularity and legitimacy of the modality; iii) investigate the practice and its relations with youth and industry. This study presented itself methodologically as an opinion article in essay format. It was concluded that E-sports still have some resistance on the part of agents in the sports field, with a view to entering the Olympic Games - there is a need for more maturity in the relations between E-sports and IOC.

Physical Education teachers and Olympic Education: perceptions and experiences

Michelle Moreira Silva Oliveira, Doiara Silva dos Santos, Clarisse Silva Caetano — Thu, 04 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This research aimed to analyze the perception and appropriations on Olympic Education by Physical Education teachers Viçosa, Minas Gerais. As specific objectives, it was intended to identify the presence/absence of Olympic Education and/or its related contents in the initial training of current Physical Education teachers; discuss their perception and appropriations of Olympic Education and/or its related contents; to identify the uses of Olympic Education in the pedagogical practice of Physical Education teachers. This is a qualitative research. For data collection, semi-structured interviews were conducted with Physical Education teachers in the city of Viçosa, Minas Gerais, through the “Google Meet” platform. Ten teachers participated in this study. As a result, it was found that Olympic Education was absent in the initial training of these teachers, that is, during the entire graduation process, these Physical Education teachers did not have in-depth contact with the themes of the Olympic Movement, Olympic Education and Olympic Games. Teachers, although they eventually use the Olympic sports context and modalities in their classes, do not attribute didactic-pedagogical treatment or systematize these contents in their pedagogical practices. Teachers report difficulties in teaching human and social values related to sport, even recognizing the importance and potential of this content in the Olympic context.

Effects of the host town initiative for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on residents’ Olympic Value Perception

Risato Ando, Supitr Samahito, Issadee Kutintara, Sarayut Noikasem, Jun Mitarai — Sun, 16 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In 2014, Secretariat of the Headquarters for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games of Cabinet Secretariat Japan compiled the Host Town Initiative, which aims to revitalize the region by establishing a ‘host town’ for each participating country/region and promoting mutual exchange between participating countries/regions and the Host Town. This was one of the legacies that the Tokyo 2020 aimed to promote and expand activities related to the Olympics at the local level and proposed to contribute to the Olympic Movement through sports and education. The aim of this study was to examine the effects to the promoting Olympic Movement of this sports policy and thus whether the Host Town Initiative has a positive impact on the perception of Olympic values in the local region. As a result of a questionnaire survey of Japanese citizens (n=1,004) in Japan in September and October 2021, the researchers elucidated the Host Town Initiative influenced positively the host town residents’ perception of Olympic value. This finding would be enabled the future host city of Olympic Games and related stakeholders promote the Olympic Movement effectively.

WFC Qatar 2022: footballers’ activism, human rights and reflections on events that occurred during the final award ceremony

David Grassi — Sat, 16 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

With an eye to the applicable sporting regulations and considering what has been written in two previous articles by the same author, some specific events that took place on the FIFA World Cup, hosted in Qatar from 20 November to 18 December 2022, will be examined. The efficacy and effectiveness of the rules governing the right of athletes to express themselves on the playing field and respect for the ceremonial on the podium will be discussed for the purposes of the strategic intentions of leaving a positive social legacy in the host country and for all fans. It will be concluded that controversial and even divisive attitudes continue to occur, even with good intentions and in creative forms sometimes consistent with the regulations, which can modify the effectiveness of events in promoting friendship, respect for the diversity of cultures and points of view. On the one hand, the rules protect the rightful prerogatives of event owners, relieved of responsibilities they cannot have. On the other hand, there is room for the creativity of activists, avoiding that their expectations are completely stifled and that there are unnecessary restrictions on their behavior. There is a dynamic balance which, even with conflicting opinions, has not prevented up to know to continue to gather the whole world through the unifying passion aroused by sporting events.

Olympism in the metaverse: perspectives for building a more inclusive world

David Grassi — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The current evolution of technology that has already made the internet possible could soon make fully usable a persistent multidimensional universe capable of providing its users with further ways to meet, play, socialize and work. It is legitimate to question the possible implications for the future of sport. As a social phenomenon, sport will remain connected to the transformation that is taking place and there will reasonably be new ways both for athletes and for fans. The openness to innovation that is characteristic of sport and Olympism gives impetus to the debate on how the internal good of sport must be preserved and how the objectives of the Olympic Charter must be achieved. An at least partial transfer of sport is expected from a context of sociality and practice that provides for a traditional physical contact and therefore in the presence, to that of a universe characterized using digital artefacts which should, according to a desirable orientation, amplify the connections between individuals even in virtual reality. On the other hand, this transformation could deviate into an alienating posthuman experience, with damaging effects on the weakest individuals, because they are in the development phase of their identity, in training or because they are socially disadvantaged. This article will try to provide some food for thought in the debate that is opening and regarding the appropriateness of this further digital revolution which, through a process that seems unstoppable, is already affecting the whole of society.

Leveraging mega-events

David Grassi — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This short essay, through a literary review, aims to verify whether the strategic choice of organizing a mega-event can be effective in acting as a lever responsible for significant local and global desirable effects (legacy). The mega events aim to meet the local needs of the host community and address global challenges. There is no consensus on the fact that the legacies of events, intended as a direct consequence of their staging, are positive, especially in the social sphere. For this reason, the use of mega events as a social, economic and environmental lever offers a proactive perspective with respect to waiting for results that may not be a direct consequence of the events. The concept of leverage provides a theoretical framework for reflecting on the broader theme of sustainability, organizer accountability and the appropriate mobilization of stakeholders to jointly determine a desirable future. It will be concluded that there is still a lack of operational indications and practical evidence that make the organization of mega events a preferable and reliable option for obtaining positive effects in the medium and long term, including those in the social sphere, compared to other alternatives.

Gender, diversity and Olympic Education: reflections for early childhood education

Sun, 23 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Gender and diversity in early childhood education are topics that deserve attention, as the fight against discrimination and inequalities are also linked to initial school education. In this context, the present essay sought, as a general objective, to understand the established heteronormative patterns frequently reproduced in schools. To this end, the following specific objectives were listed: (i) reflect on gender and diversity in early childhood education; (ii) discuss a didactic material; (iii) problematize the prism: ‘education’, ‘childhood education’ and ‘teacher training’; (iv) discuss Olympic education in this field. The theoretical process ensured reflections on several paths: social, historical, political, cultural, educational, sporting, moral and ethical.

Game: some wriitten

Andreza Rodrigues Marreiros de Sousa — Sun, 13 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The objective of this essay is to present a discussion about sport as one of the manifestations of the game, especially a sport inserted in the school environment. Sport at school can be discussed from two angles: sport as one of the contents of body movement culture, present in the Physical Education curriculum component; and also as a practice in school hours. It is under the latter that the present lines will deal, in the sense of presenting reflective paths based on the theory of the game, seeking to raise points of discussion that strengthen the thesis of a powerful sport about the formation of subjects.

Living well: a socio-environmental approach to sport

Associação Sportmeet for a United World — Sun, 24 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The 10th International Sportmeet Congress took place in São Sebastião – SP - Brazil, from September 17th to 21st, 2023, with the participation of 100 people from 8 countries. The central theme was ‘Living well: a socio-environmental approach to sport’. Theoretical presentations and local immersion experiences addressed paradigmatic issues, highlighting 'good living' as a lifestyle based on three harmonies (with the person, the community and the collective of life), raising reflections on inconsistencies in the Western world. The search for a new understanding of competition began, aiming to contribute to current economic, social, political and environmental culture.