Discourses of Olympism

'A fascinating book which depicts the deep evolution of Olympism as an ideology over three centuries of Olympic issues.' - Jean-Loup Chappelet, Professor of Public Management, Swiss Graduate School of Administration, University of Lausanne, Switzerland

'This learned, ambitious study brings the ideologies of the Olympic Movement down to earth by examining them against the major transformations of the modern period and the day-to-day debates in which Olympic leaders were engaged. It's essential reading for anyone concerned with Olympic history and an historically informed, less polemic basis for scholarly critique.' - Bruce Kidd, Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Canada

'Based on a meticulous discourse analysis of the most influential theorists in the modern Olympic movement Dikaia Chatziefstathiou and Ian Henry have produced a comprehensive and thoroughly documented text describing and discussing the central strands of 'Olympism'. This outstanding work will be required reading for anyone interested in Olympic ideology.' - Otto Schantz, Professor in the Institute for Sport Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Germany

'The authors put the dynamic historical process of studies on Olympism in a new perspective and re-evaluated it critically. It provokes creative ideas. It is a book worth having to all serious Olympic scholars and students.' - Hai Ren, Director of the Centre for Olympic Studies, Beijing Sport University, China

'The discussion of Olympism has been bedevilled by an endless debate between its defenders and detractors. In a refreshing new approach Chatziefstathiou and Henry examine the production of the discourse of Olympism over time. Case studies of de Coubertin, Diem and lecturers at the International Olympic Academy show how this discourse has an intriguing life of its own.' - Richard Cashman, Professor and Director of the Australian Centre for Olympic Studies, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia