cuktural imperialism and the olympics
Cultural Imperialism and the Olympic Games Virtually since their resumption in 1896, every four years the press is filled with complaints about the intrusion of power politics into the Olympic games. David B. Kanin has commented that while we are told that international Olympic system idealizes and promotes fair play and sportsmanship and ameliorates struggle, hatred, and petty jealously through structured competition and international goodwill, the realist is that "international sport thrives on the very politics Olympic publicists decry (Kanin 1)." Nevertheless, the games are more or less 'political', than anything else. Ninety-five percent of the problems faced by IOC's president Killian involved national and international politics (Senn x). Further, it can be argued that what could be called 'cultural imperialism' has influenced and even shaped the games. Cultural imperialism at times facilitates inclusion of sporting events reflecting a host nations area of expertise or de-emphasizing sports that are popular with nations not in political favor. The following report will explore this issue up until the World War II games. The Olympic Games and the Olympic system have become, in some critical ways, actors on the g
These types of actions are another form of cultural imperialism affecting the Olympics. It later became peripheral in 1928 when the Dutch concluded that Protestant services were inappropriate at a festival to which athletes of every religion were invited (Guttmann 126). Other nations, especially the Greeks, accused Coubertin of stealing their heritage and they refused to give him credit for organizing the first modern Olympic Games (Senn 24). The United States is one of the largest Hegemons in the world, therefore, cultural imperialism is dominant in many of their sports and other Western nations. It seems that the expansion of women's sporting events prior to and after World War II, was driven by Western nations such as Britain and France where women's issues have achieved a place on a national policy social agenda (Senn 43). · In 1936 at the Berlin Games, Germany added a sport - 11 - a side handball- in which its own team excelled (internet). It has been stated that Western sports and ideals have dominated many facets of the Olympics. If France was successful in the games and its organization, it would look good for the country. Ruud Stockvis, a Dutch sociologist, states the popularity of any given sport in any given country depends upon the development of the positions of economic and political power among the nations of the world system (Guttmann 173). However, as the years progressed, Coubertin was given the credit he deserved and has been called the father of the modern Olympics. These types of nations could send the greatest number of skilled women athletes-increasing their chances of success. Further, it can be argued that nationalistic rivalry is present in the Games and countries have used the Games to foster their political interests. " Also, in response to the success of Blacks in the Los Angeles Games Germans said: Negroes have no place in the Olympics. For instance, Canadians have taken to a version of gridiron football and even imported American players (Guttmann 175). Athletes represent their country and when they do win, it raises national pride within that country.
Common topics in this essay:
Africa India,
David Kanin,
Stockvis Dutch,
Olympic Games,
Games American,
Games Olympic,
France Coubertin,
Britain France,
Games Olympics,
Kanin Nazi,
olympic games,
cultural imperialism,
senn 50,
jews blacks,
berlin games,
olympic system,
world war ii,
games foster,
games olympic,
examples prove,
games nevertheless,
|
Acceptance Essays
