Winters of Discontent
The Winter Olympics and a Half Century of Protest and Resistance
Saying no to hosting the Winter Olympics, from 1960 to today
Cloth – $110
978-0-252-04637-7
Paper – $28
978-0-252-08844-5
eBook – $19.95
978-0-252-04766-4
Publication Date
Cloth: 01/07/2025
Series: Sport and Society
About the Book
Every four years, the Winter Olympics become a focal point for activism and resistance. But in the modern era, mere bids to host the Games have sparked fierce opposition from groups motivated by local or global concerns. Russell Field edits a collection that charts the evolution of protest around the Winter Games and illuminates the issues at the heart of anti-Olympic activism.The essays collectively explore the shifting dynamics and power relations between the civic coalitions that pursue the Winter Olympics and the social movements that oppose their efforts. The contributors look at specific Games impacted by dissent and probe the issues that swirled around failed and withdrawn bids. In addition, contributions on the contemporary Olympics describe current or future bids while delving into the campaigns demanding host nations pay attention to economic, social, humanitarian, and environmental concerns.A first-of-its-kind collection, Winters of Discontent profiles the wide range of activists and social movements that have organized against the Winter Olympics.
About the Author
Russell Field is an associate professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management at the University of Manitoba. He is the author of A Night at the Gardens: Class, Gender, and Respectability in 1930s Toronto.Reviews
"This intriguing book uses history to show a path to resistance."-Choice Connect"This collection is a welcome addition to the growing field of scholarship on the Winter Olympics. Its authors demonstrate a collective deep knowledge of Olympic protest historiography . . . . Any activist looking for a field guide or potential bid leader looking to avert controversy and backlash would be well-served to spend time reading this book in its entirety to absorb its many merits."--The New England Journal of History
Blurbs
“This thoughtfully curated collection explores the long history of opposition to Winter Olympic Games, especially the main concerns (costs, environmental destruction, Indigenous erasure and IOC capitalism), tactics, and the experiences of activists. It’s a timely, invaluable contribution to mega-event studies.”--Bruce Kidd, author of A Runner’s Journey
Related Titles
