The Olympic System: Toward a Geopolitical Approach

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The Olympic System: Toward a Geopolitical Approach 

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linked to international relations. The first section describes the primary actors in 

the Olympic system and the stakes involved. The next section covers the intro-

duction of the IOC into international relations. The third section examines the 

role of states, not from a traditional historical perspective, but through the lenses 

of recognition, power, and the rewriting of history.

1  The Actors of the Olympic System 

An analysis of the actors in the Olympic system must address two time periods: 

the long term, including the principal sports institutions—pillars of the sports 

movement (IOC, ISFs, National Olympic Committees [NOCs])—and the short 

term which comes around every four years—the celebration of the Games, where 

these actors are present but where other partners also play roles. It is during this 

brief period that we can take a geopolitical approach to sport, with media expo-

sure giving it a unique stage.

Here we will deal with relations between the actors, distinguishing those who 

make up the system from those who are only present for the actual Games.