scholarly journals Visible or Invisible Games? A Critique on the Future of the World Games

2010 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-29
Author(s):  
Li-Hong Hsu

Visible or Invisible Games? A Critique on the Future of the World GamesAs the crowded calendar of world sport and the increasing competition between sporting festivals is likely to affect more second-tier global sporting festivals than the Olympic Games (Cashman 2004, p. 134), this paper attempts to answer a few questions concerning the future of the World Games, i.e. a multi-sport mega event. The first and primary question is whether it is worthwhile to host the World Games. In this paper reasoned justification will be provided with a critical eye. Furthermore, questions will be raised about the when and particularly about the where. The content of the World Games' programs will be briefly discussed and critically evaluated as well. As an example the author will use the 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung, Taiwan for discussion.

Author(s):  
Anthony W. Pereira

‘Brazil hosts the Olympic Games’ examines the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on 5 August 2016. This was the first time the games took place in South America. Watched live by hundreds of millions of people around the world, the four-hour ceremony reveals something about Brazil and its national experience. It provides insights into what makes Brazilians proud to be Brazilian, as well as anxieties behind those sources of pride. The themes concern the importance of nature and its preservation; the importance of the future in Brazilians’ view of the world; Brazil’s alleged vocation for peaceful inclusion; and the informality of the Brazilian way of getting things done.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Gardner

Investigating several modern ‘mega events’, including World’s Fairs and Olympic Games, this paper discusses the complex relationship such events and their sites have often had with ‘the future’. Such events are frequently associated with demonstrating progress towards future ‘utopias’ (for example ‘The World of Tomorrow’ theme of the 1939 World’s Fair in New York) or leaving a tangible positive social and economic ‘legacy’. However, other uses of mega event sites have also frequently manifested darker, more anxious ideas about that which is yet to come. In this paper I discuss three forms in which mega events’ sites relate to the idea of the future: before, during, and after they take place. In discussing these relationships, I demonstrate how traces of ‘past futures’, when investigated archaeologically, provide a diverse means by which to understand how societies have related to the idea of the future through the modern era.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 108-119
Author(s):  
Mateusz Rozmiarek ◽  
Joanna Poczta

Among the fastest growing branches of the world economy, tourism is considered to be one of the main ones. It provides an opportunity to travel and explore the surrounding reality, including the diverse landscape. One of the most popular forms of tourism is still active tourism, which has a mass range and thus offers a more accessible educational offer in the field of natural and cultural heritage, history or geography. In Poland this is referred as ‘Krajoznawstwo’. The concept has not yet found an equivalent name in English, but it is very much related to tourism. In the Polish capital of Greater Poland region – Poznan, the area around Lake Malta is one of the areas where one can see many objects of interest for people who collect information about the area in the context of gathering knowledge about the country and the region. Not only a geographer or a biologist, but also all those who are comprehensively interested in the natural and cultural heritage, and in the future even in the history of the local participants in the Olympic Games, will find some information there. The main goal of the study is to is to show that “krajoznawstwo” has many features in common with active tourism and can thus be translated into English, where there is no clear equivalent word. The second goal is to present the area of the Malta Lake in Poznań as a case study, a place for the realization of sightseeing interests and active tourism.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 386-389
Author(s):  
Eduardo Oliveira

Evinç Doğan (2016). Image of Istanbul, Impact of ECoC 2010 on The City Image. London: Transnational Press London. [222 pp, RRP: £18.75, ISBN: 978-1-910781-22-7]The idea of discovering or creating a form of uniqueness to differentiate a place from others is clearly attractive. In this regard, and in line with Ashworth (2009), three urban planning instruments are widely used throughout the world as a means of boosting a city’s image: (i) personality association - where places associate themselves with a named individual from history, literature, the arts, politics, entertainment, sport or even mythology; (ii) the visual qualities of buildings and urban design, which include flagship building, signature urban design and even signature districts and (iii) event hallmarking - where places organize events, usually cultural (e.g., European Capital of Culture, henceforth referred to as ECoC) or sporting (e.g., the Olympic Games), in order to obtain worldwide recognition. 


Author(s):  
Olga Kuvaldina ◽  
Volodymyr Driukov

Analysis of Ukrainian athletes’ results at the XXXII Olympiad Games allows pointing out the factors of the weak performance of Ukrainian athletes in women's individual saber and epee competitions, as well as men's team epee competitions, despite the possibility of winning medals in these sports events according to many analysts including those of Infostrada Sports and other sports statistics experts. These, in our opinion, include an unsatisfactory level of efficiency of the process of reaching the peak of readiness for the Olympic Games; lack of psychological stability of athletes at the competitions; weak tactical preparation of some athletes. Based on the performances of athletes of the Ukrainian fencing team in Tokyo, a conclusion was made about the unsatisfactory level of athletes’ preparation for the XXXII Olympic Games. Only 20% of the national team members were able to realize their potential at the XXXII Olympic Games. The dynamics of the athletes’ results at the World Championships 2017 – 2019 indicates the need to use in the new Olympic cycle the planning, which is focused on our athletes reaching the peak of readiness for the Olympics: at first, the training should be aimed at the maximum stimulation of the growth of sportsmanship, whereas at the final stage it should be focused on its realization in the major competitions. It is shown that despite the unsuccessful performance of the Ukrainian fencing team in the Olympic Tokyo, this type of martial arts has significant potential for improving sports achievements at the XXXIII Olympic Games 2024 in Paris. It is noted that in the new Olympic cycle it is of crucial importance to identify candidates for the XXXIII Olympic Games as soon as possible and to create all the conditions for their full-fledged preparation. Thus, to ensure further winning medal places at the Olympic Games, it is necessary to improve the system of sports training in the Olympic cycle, which envisages participation in numerous competitions during the year to achieve a high level of readiness in the major competitions of triennial – the Olympic Games.


2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Endrit Kromidha ◽  
Laura J. Spence ◽  
Stephanos Anastasiadis ◽  
Darla Dore

The purpose of this research is to analyze how governance is related to sustainability and innovation in mega-events over time by looking at the Olympic Games as a case study. Three main contributions are made to management research and practice. First, Foucauldian governmentality is built upon and enriched with a longitudinal perspective by following the evolution of Visibility, Techne, Episteme, and Identity analytics of governmentality. Second, an innovative methodology based on interviews, a systematic documentary review, and software-assisted thematic auto-coding for a theory-led structured analysis is applied. Third, the theoretical and empirical contribution of this study on the longitudinal aspects of governmentality over different parties and outlets of information could be used to guide practical and strategic decisions for managers and policy makers. In addition to its scholarly importance, this work is needed because mega-events can have a sustainable long-term impact, balancing legacy and innovative change.


2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josef Ploner ◽  
Mike Robinson

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vishwas Maheshwari ◽  
Janaina de Moura Engracia Giraldi ◽  
Maria Gabriela Montanari

Purpose Olympic Games provide an arguably unparalleled amount of opportunities for the host city and country in relation to economic and socio-cultural growth and development. However, the achievement of such long-term success measures lies with the holistic involvement of community groups, specifically residents, in the planning of the mega event. The purpose of this paper is to examine the residents’ attitudes of the 2016 Olympic Games and to verify moderating effects of place of residence in support of the Games. Design/methodology/approach The data were collected in Brazil in the months leading to the Rio Olympic Games using non-probabilistic convenience sampling. A total of 501 responses were collected prior to the opening ceremony of the event. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were applied. Findings The socio-cultural and economic dimensions had a positive and significant effect in support for the Olympic Games; however, the environmental dimension did not have such strong effect. Furthermore, differences between host and non-host city residents tested positive in support of the Olympic Games. Practical implications This study aims to contribute to the developing application of country branding by examining attitudes of internal stakeholder groups in the form of residents. Originality/value This research presents a conceptual model to further establish the importance of such attitudes for organizers and government authorities involved with the bidding, planning and management of mega events from a country branding perspective, particularly in developing countries such as Brazil.


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