ABSTRACT
Chapter 3 revealed a structural problem with hosting the Olympic Games – a ‘problem of many hands’. When problems arise around the Olympic Games, accountability is difficult to establish. This chapter examines some of the worst outcomes of the Olympic Games, namely: violations of labour rights, forced evictions of residents, environmental harm, and negative long-term legacies of the Games. In looking at the worst outcomes of the Games, this chapter also examines the substantive legitimacy of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Games. In particular, this chapter assesses whether the IOC has lived up to its minimal moral responsibility, and whether it possesses institutional integrity. In conducting the analysis, three research questions are posed. First, what are the international legal obligations of the IOC in regards to the worst outcomes of the Olympic Games? Second, what are the worst outcomes of the Olympic Games? Third, why look at an international sporting organisation at all, and not just turn to the state to prevent and remedy the worst outcomes of the Games? The following four sections of this chapter will seek to answer these questions. Section 1 will examine the increase in the frequency of hosting the Olympic Games, and other sporting (mega-)events, in emerging market economies, and why this is the case. It will also examine the problem with state accountability in emerging market economies. Section 2 will examine the minimum moral responsibility and institutional integrity required of the IOC, focusing on human rights, and the ‘legacies’ of the Games. Section 3 will discuss some of the worst outcomes of hosting the Olympic Games: abuses of labour rights, forced evictions, environmental damage, and other negative ‘legacies’. Section 4 will conclude with an assessment of the substantive legitimacy of the IOC.
