A brief, knowledgeable and critical look at the Olympics

Björn Sandahl
Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Stockholm

An unintended side effect of digitalization and technological development is that it has also become increasingly easier to produce printed works. In parallel with the advance of computerization, this reviewer has also been able to note a trend where printed scientific works have become more and more voluminous. That’s why Jules Boykoff’s What are the Olympics for? comes as a pleasant surprise. A neat little book that deals with its subject in just over 100 pages.

It should be noted at the outset that the book is part of a series on the theme “What is it for?” which, according to the initial list, so far comprises a further six volumes with about fifteen in production covering areas from IT security to zoological gardens. The format is thus part of the set-up that can be said to be an introductory “crash course” for those who may not be familiar with the subject in question and would like to know more.

Consequently, it provides a sweeping and comprehensive introduction to the Olympic Games and the Olympic movement with a pronounced critical perspective. The approach is to identify the contemporary challenges that currently characterize the games and the movement with the approach of also pointing out solutions to said problems.

However, the presentation is generally snappy, analytical, and reveals the author’s great knowledge in the field.

The book consists of four parts. The first gives a presentation of the Olympic movement’s organization and is followed by a second part that gives an overall review of the history of the Games. It presents the historical and organizational foundations for the issues that emerge as current challenges over time. For obvious reasons, the account is summary, but the author skillfully includes perspectives and themes that later become central in the more analytical chapters that follow. At the same time, the account of the contemporary historian’s most common challenge becomes clear, as the thematic narrative works best in terms of the older history of the Olympic movement but becomes more general the closer we get to the present time – a natural consequence of trying to describe narratives and processes that are still ongoing. However, the presentation is generally snappy, analytical, and reveals the author’s great knowledge in the field.

This is followed by the third part, which presents the contemporary challenges of the Olympic movement. Here, the author cleverly reconnects to the historical and organizational context that has already been presented. Without giving too much away, the presentation revolves around politics, commercialization, sports ethics and social issues related to the Games.

Finally, a fourth part in which proposals for measures are presented. The proposals are characterized by long-standing criticism about the need to democratize the Olympic movement and demand a higher degree of responsibility from the same regarding transparency in the movement and human rights in connection with the Games. As a reader, it is difficult not to ask how realistic these ambitions are in light of the fact that the Olympic movement is now to be considered an autonomous global capitalist actor, with all that that entails The author also notes in several places that the discernible development in practice seems to go in the opposite direction compared to his own recommendations. Despite this, it would have been beneficial to have a critical analysis of what opportunities for change actually exist given the conditions that currently govern the Olympic movement. At the same time, that may actually belong in a scientific presentation of a different type than this one.

In summary, however, the verdict is that this is a good book. Boykoff has a critical eye and a deep understanding of the subject he is discussing. I took great pleasure in reading What are the Olympics for?, and although the book doesn’t contain much news for the informed reader, the content is presented in a delicate package that makes an excellent introduction for those who want to know more about the Olympics.

If anyone is thinking about suitable course literature for an Olympic-themed course, I hereby give my recommendations to take a closer look at What is the Olympics for?.

Copyright © Björn Sandahl 2025