ABSTRACT
A broad division exists between, on the one hand, those one might refer to as ‘romantic idealists’ – who believe that the Olympic Games can bring about greater internationalism, peace and fraternity, who refer to it as a movement, or a ‘family’, and treat Olympism as a quasi-religion or civil religion, and those on the other hand who are scathing critics of Olympism because they believe it encourages organisations and individuals – whom they see as corrupt chancers on the make to line their own pockets – inducing potential hosts to spend millions of dollars to bid and persuade just over a hundred people to vote for them, all amidst a prevailing lack of transparency. For the past 20 years the IOC has enjoyed a no-cost promotion strategy, constantly in the glare of the world’s mass media – every year at least three hosts and another host to be decided are known about. In the odd years when there is not an Olympic Games taking place a decision will be made at an IOC Session or Congress about where either a Winter or a Summer Olympics will be held in seven years’ time (see the Timeline, pp. xv-xvi).
