The Olympic Games

1
The Olympic Games

• Media and the Olympic Games

2
Readings

• Gruneau
• Carlisle Duncan and Brumett
• Real
• Van Wynsbergehe and Richie

3
Mediated Olympics

• Are the Olympics mediated?
• What exactly is mediated?
• Why?
• Who cares?

4
Mediation of the Olympic Games
5
Mediation of the Olympic Games

• Levels of Mediation
• Focus of Mediation
• Forms of Mediation
• Functions of Mediation

6
Levels of Mediation

• Official
• Unofficial

7
Official mediation

• Rites over the Olympic Games The Olympic Games
  are the exclusive property of the IOC which owns
  all rights relating thereto, in particular, and
  without limitation, the rights relating to their
  organization, exploitation, broadcasting and
  reproduction by any means whatsoever. All
  profits derived from the celebration of the
  Olympic Game shall be applied to the development
  of the Olympic Movement and Sport
  (Olympic Charter, p. 16)

8
Media Coverage at the Olympic GamesOlympic
Charter, p. 24

• It should be the objective of the Olympic
  Movement that media coverage of the Olympic
  Games, by its content, spread and promote the
  principles of Olympism
• In order to ensure the fullest news coverage by
  the different media and the widest possible
  audience for the Olympic Games, all necessary
  steps shall be determined by the IOC executive
  Board and implemented by the OCOG.
• All questions concerning the mass media at the
  Olympic Games, including the granting and the
  withdrawal of Olympic identity cards and of
  accreditation, rest within the competence of the
  IOC Executive Board

9
Focus of Mediation

• The Movement
• The Festival
• The Sport/Competition
• The Athlete/Personality

10
Functions of Mediation

• Performances/Experiential Media
• Festival
• Spectacle
• Ritual
• Games
• Communication/Interpretive Media
• News
• Entertainment
• Documentary
• Artistic/Expressive