Journal of Olympic Studies: Listening and Learning List

Looking to dive into some fascinating sports scholarship? Check out our multimedia reading/listening list, featuring podcast episodes from our show, The UPside, that focus on articles from the Journal of Olympic Studies! Each episode and article centers on both sides of three forums that were featured in different issues, including COVID-19, esports, and transgender athletes. You can listen to all the podcast episodes from this list in a playlist here.

The Price of Pandemic: The IOC and the Fallout from Tokyo 2020

Dr. Zimbalist joined the podcast to discuss his article on the economic impacts of the COVID-19 postponement on the Tokyo Olympics, as well as his own academic background, the challenges and history involved with choosing Tokyo as a host city, Olympic budgeting, and more. His article from the forum in Vol. 2, Iss. 1, on “The Price of Pandemic: The IOC and the Fallout from Tokyo 2020,” goes even more in-depth on the economics behind the unique situation.

In his contribution to the Vol. 2, Iss. 1, forum, which was written in September 2020, Dr. MacAloon breaks down the behind-the-scenes challenges to the delayed Olympics and the inevitable result of an experience of “social solidarity” of an Olympics that signals a possible recovery from the worldwide pandemic. However, he contrasts this with the complicated moral situation of Beijing 2022 in light of the radical oppression of the Uighurs and other Turkic-speaking Muslims in Zinjiang by the Peoples Republic of China. He expands upon his thoughts on these events in the podcast episode.

  • Bonus Reading Material:

Vol. 3, Iss. 1, of Journal of Olympic Studies was a special issue centered around John J. MacAloon’s scholarship. Articles include John J. MacAloon and the Communitas of the Great Symbol by Cesar R. Torres, Every Athlete an Anthropologist: John J. MacAloon’s Vision for Sport by Bruce Kidd, and more.

The Future of Esports at the Olympics

In his contribution to a forum on “The Future of Esports at the Olympics” in Vol. 2, Iss. 2, Dr. Parry takes a strong stance against their inclusion, arguing that the most popular current esports are not “Olympic-type sports,” despite their popularity, institutionalization, and ethical status. He joins the podcast to define esports and sports, discuss the IOC’s official ruling, and give a preview of the article.

In Dr. Miah’s contribution to the Esports forum in Vol. 2, Iss. 2, he discusses the historical development of the complex relationship between esports and the Olympics. Miah focuses on the various disputes and development of both movements that have taken place since Rio 2016 and offers the solution of including esports as a part of the cultural program of the Olympics, rather than the sports program. He discusses his background in esports, the international origin of esports, the arguments for and against “non-physical athletes” participating in the Olympics, and more in the associated podcast episode.

Transgender Athletes and the Olympic Games

Dr. Ivy provides a strong argument in favor of allowing transgender athletes in Olympic sport, as well as her own perspective as a trans athlete and activist in her contribution to the forum “Transgender Athletes and the Olympic Games” in Vol. 4, Iss. 2. Ivy discusses her contribution further on the podcast episode, pointing out logical inconsistencies in arguments that trans athletes have a “competitive advantage,” pointing out the unspoken misogyny in many discussions on the topic, and speaking out on her experiences being on the receiving end of transphobia.

In his contribution to the forum in Vol 4, Iss. 1, and on his episode of the podcast, Dr. Christiansen provides an alternative perspective and discusses his concerns about biological advantages when trans athletes are allowed to compete in sport and the perceived difficulties of balancing inclusion and fairness.

Find Out More

The Journal of Olympic Studies is the official publication of the Center for Sociocultural Sport and Olympic Research Conference, and aspires to be the preeminent international multidisciplinary, peer-reviewed scholarly journal in the field of Olympic research.

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About Kristina Stonehill