"Power, Politics, and the Olympic Games" offers the most up-to-date and comprehensive history of the Olympic movement on the market. It is not a record book full of sterile results and statistics. Rather, it is an insightful and accessible exploration of the history of the Olympics and how big a role politics has played since the modern Games began in 1896. The book covers the entire 20th century and includes Sydney's bid and preparation for their 2000 Games. This book provides an analytical and judicious interpretation of the myths surrounding the games and shows you the political and economic realities as ritual, sports, politics, and show business are combined in the largest regularly scheduled international gathering in the world. You'll learn who serves on the International Olympic Committee and what they do, how the various host cities are chosen, and even which countries, teams, and athletes get to participate. The unique visibility of the Games make them an attractive target for political and social causes, and "Power, Politics, and the Olympic Games" discusses in detail many of these controversies. Many of today's controversies are not all that new, and "Power, Politics, and the Olympic Games" offers you a unique historical perspective into the who, what, when, where, how, and-most importantly-why behind the many disputes and conflicts that have plagued the modern Games.