Olympic Challenges

Abstract

The Chinese hosts are not the only people who see the Olympic Games in Beijing as a great success. All active participants experienced the games as unique in many different respects; and apart from a few exceptions they received great appreciation from the participating nations. It is also very significant that the games obviously have had a lasting impact on Chinese society. This becomes evident not only in the infrastructural achievements but first and foremost in the opening up of Chinese society, a process that has been greatly accelerated by the Olympic Games. Changing the perspective and viewing the Chinese games from the angle of the IOC, however, might produce a somewhat different verdict, which could be summed up in the following statement: disaster was close for the IOC – they just made it. The Olympic movement has long been confronted with problems which are frequently not recognized and the solutions to which are, for the most part, not yet in sight. Necessary processes of change are put off again and again. Possible solutions are not vehemently pursued. Some of these problems prove to be of such complexity that – it must be admitted in all fairness – the search for solutions will still be extremely difficult in the future. If we also want Olympic Games to be successful in the future however, these problems need to be openly addressed and discussed and it must be recognized that we are on the way to suitable solutions. In the following, selected problems and challenges will be outlined, as they have become evident during the games in Beijing and afterwards.

Notes

[1’ Heinilä, ‘The Totalization Process’.