[Did the 1980 Moscow Olympics play a role in the evolution of the International Olympic Committee between 1978 and 1984?]

By

Acknowledgement

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I, [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

Signed __________________ Date _________________

Abstract

Impacts of the Moscow Olympics on the biosphere and on the communities that host them are significant. Increasing size, scope and costs, rising security concerns, cultural and environmental impacts are some of the key issues facing host cities and those cities bidding or considering bidding for the Moscow Olympics. One of the ideals of the Olympic Charter is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of mankind and the three pillars of the Olympic movement are sport, culture and environment. This paper examines the IOC's options for sustainability in its primary question: In what way could the International Olympic Committee (IOC) contribute to a global movement towards socio-ecological sustainability? The hypothesis that the IOC is an agent for social/cultural and environmental change is explored. The paper uses a principled definition of success for socio-ecological sustainability and presents a vision of a sustainable IOC and Olympic Movement within a sustainable society. From that vision specific IOC strategies along with past, present and short-term future actions are analysed to determine the obstacles and deficiencies in moving the IOC toward complying with scientifically relevant principles for socio-ecological sustainability. Systems thinking are used to identify obstacles and opportunities within the Olympic Movement. These obstacles and opportunities to strategically move the IOC toward sustainability are identified, analysed and discussed. The paper concludes with examples of possible actions the IOC could take to strategically move towards sustainability.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION6

The Olympic Movement in the context of sustainability6

Rationale for doing the study7

Relevance of the Olympic Movement8

Particularly interesting about the Olympic Evolution8

Purpose of the study9

Scope10

Limitations10

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW11

Moscow Olympics 198011

Evolution of the concept of Olympic12

Finding and categorizing relevant data13

Data analysis techniques14

Interviews14

Finding and categorizing relevant data14

Process for developing interview questions14

Sustainability15

Data analysis techniques16

THE MODERN OLYMPIC REVIVAL16

The five level model21

Systems thinking22

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY24

Section I24

Section II24

Section III25

Section IV26

CHAPTER 4: DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS28

RESULTS SECTION I28

Global Influence of the IOC30

Examples of global influence30

International influence of the IOC32

Indirect / cultural influence on international relations33

Results Section II34

Results Section III36

The Olympic Movement38

Results section IV40

Applicability43

Key findings and significance43

Scandals And Controversies45

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION49

Recommendations based on research findings50

REFERENCES53

Chapter 1: Introduction

The Olympic Movement in the context of sustainability

Although a number of nineteenth-century Europeans endeavored to revive the ancient Olympics, none succeeded. W. P. Brookes inaugurated a series of annual “Olympian Games” in Shropshire in 1849. They were purely local affairs in which rural folk participated in traditional pastimes. In 1859, the Greeks made the first of several attempts to revive the Olympics, ...