ABSTRACT

The publicly acclaimed idea that sport, as physical activity, is good for one's health is prominent in both global health strategies and national physical activity policies. For instance, the World Health Organization emphasizes 'the significance of physical activity on public health' and 'the need for the development of global recommendations' on physical activity for 'the prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and the general health of the population worldwide'. While the marathon provides an apposite example of the intersection of the Olympic Movement, Olympic legacy, sport and health, it also provides one of the clearest illustrations of the contradictory nature of these ideologies. The modern Olympic Games provide a vivid example of the complex relationships between elite sport and mass participation and the overlapping nature of the two. The Olympic Games can be considered an exemplar of the dominance of the global organization and practice of elite performance sport.