The Olympic System: Toward a Geopolitical Approach

XVIII •

 Pascal Gillon

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° 680 • 2011

The choice of host city represents the final axis of Olympic diplomacy. Since 

1984 and the success of the Los Angeles Games, many cities have entered the 

competition. The most recent nominations have demonstrated the enthusiasm 

of heads of state to defend their cities’ applications. In Copenhagen in October 

2009, during the election of the 2016 Games host city, the Japanese prime minis-

ter, the presidents of Brazil and the United States, the president of the Spanish 

government as well as the king of Spain all traveled to be there, thus strengthen-

ing the stature of the IOC. The IOC’s power was reflected by the United States 

signing the UNESCO anti-doping agreement so that the city of Chicago could 

apply. Until that time, the United States had refused to sign, in accordance with 

its general policy.