The Interference of Politics in the Olympic Games, and How the U.S. Media Contribute to It
In February 2014, Russia will host the Olympic Games for only the second time in its history. Once again, the Olympic spirit—as defined and espoused by the International Olympic Committee—will clash with the political interests that overshadow the Games. This paper examines the political undertones...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Saint Paul University
2013-12-01
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| Series: | Global Media Journal: Canadian Edition |
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| Online Access: | http://www.gmj.uottawa.ca/1302/v6i2_moretti.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818671141113298944 |
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| author | Anthony Moretti |
| author_facet | Anthony Moretti |
| author_sort | Anthony Moretti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In February 2014, Russia will host the Olympic Games for only the second time in its history. Once again, the Olympic spirit—as defined and espoused by the International Olympic Committee—will clash with the political interests that overshadow the Games. This paper examines the political undertones of the 1980 Summer Olympics, hosted by Moscow and which took place during an ice-cold period of the Cold War, and asks whether similar undertones will be on display next year. The 1980 Games were a phenomenal success for Soviet athletes and their Eastern European colleagues. However, in the absence of the United States and more than 50 other nations, the political frame from a Western context was that of athletes from a corrupt system competing alongside their comrades. The boycott of these Games demonstrated the power of the White House and the often lapdog quality of the American media. Now as the Games return to Russia, the issue of whether a Cold War-like mentality will influence U.S. media reporting of the 2014 Sochi Olympics must be asked. The conflicting images in Western news media discourse of Russian president Vladimir Putin and his “Communist past” combined with a tepid diplomatic relationship between his government and the Obama administration provide evidence that a negative portrayal of Russia and therefore its athletes will be displayed in February 2014. And yet there is no impetus for a boycott next year. This paper explores why. |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1918-5901 1918-5901 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T07:19:17Z |
| publishDate | 2013-12-01 |
| publisher | Saint Paul University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Media Journal: Canadian Edition |
| spelling | doaj.art-2a45573aa72843788d8d91945036dd312022-12-21T21:58:48ZengSaint Paul UniversityGlobal Media Journal: Canadian Edition1918-59011918-59012013-12-0162518The Interference of Politics in the Olympic Games, and How the U.S. Media Contribute to ItAnthony Moretti0Robert Morris UniversityIn February 2014, Russia will host the Olympic Games for only the second time in its history. Once again, the Olympic spirit—as defined and espoused by the International Olympic Committee—will clash with the political interests that overshadow the Games. This paper examines the political undertones of the 1980 Summer Olympics, hosted by Moscow and which took place during an ice-cold period of the Cold War, and asks whether similar undertones will be on display next year. The 1980 Games were a phenomenal success for Soviet athletes and their Eastern European colleagues. However, in the absence of the United States and more than 50 other nations, the political frame from a Western context was that of athletes from a corrupt system competing alongside their comrades. The boycott of these Games demonstrated the power of the White House and the often lapdog quality of the American media. Now as the Games return to Russia, the issue of whether a Cold War-like mentality will influence U.S. media reporting of the 2014 Sochi Olympics must be asked. The conflicting images in Western news media discourse of Russian president Vladimir Putin and his “Communist past” combined with a tepid diplomatic relationship between his government and the Obama administration provide evidence that a negative portrayal of Russia and therefore its athletes will be displayed in February 2014. And yet there is no impetus for a boycott next year. This paper explores why.http://www.gmj.uottawa.ca/1302/v6i2_moretti.pdf1980 Olympics; International Olympic Committee; Jimmy Carter; Olympics; USSR |
| spellingShingle | Anthony Moretti The Interference of Politics in the Olympic Games, and How the U.S. Media Contribute to It Global Media Journal: Canadian Edition 1980 Olympics; International Olympic Committee; Jimmy Carter; Olympics; USSR |
| title | The Interference of Politics in the Olympic Games, and How the U.S. Media Contribute to It |
| title_full | The Interference of Politics in the Olympic Games, and How the U.S. Media Contribute to It |
| title_fullStr | The Interference of Politics in the Olympic Games, and How the U.S. Media Contribute to It |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Interference of Politics in the Olympic Games, and How the U.S. Media Contribute to It |
| title_short | The Interference of Politics in the Olympic Games, and How the U.S. Media Contribute to It |
| title_sort | interference of politics in the olympic games and how the u s media contribute to it |
| topic | 1980 Olympics; International Olympic Committee; Jimmy Carter; Olympics; USSR |
| url | http://www.gmj.uottawa.ca/1302/v6i2_moretti.pdf |
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