Podcasts about celebration capitalism

Spend the hour with Nolympics, grooving to the sounds of global capital's five-ringed trojan horse.

This is a re-release of our interview with Proffessor Jules Boykoff, originally published within GA Poscast EP01. The Olympics are no doubt an iconic sports staple and whether watching gymnasts tumble across an arena or skiers flying down the slopes, chances are you've watched—and probably cheered for—an Olympic event. Professor Jules Boykoff joins Noah Hoffman to break down the history of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and share the impact of some remarkable highs and lows of the modern Olympic games.       In this episode, we talk about… Pierre Coubertin's vision and who he wanted to participate in the Olympics  How athletes fit into the Olympic story throughout history Peter O'Connor's activism at the 1906 Olympics Alice Milliat's alternative Olympics for women  The lasting influence of John Carlos, Tommie Smith and the Olympic Project for Human Rights in 1968  How the IOC leverages sanctions against athletes in present day IOC's governance structure and accountability  4 Trends of Olympic host cities: high spending, militarization, displacement and eviction, greenwashing  How the United Nations addresses the democracy deficit of the IOC The state of exception the IOC thrives on vs. state of emergency in Japan for upcoming summer games   Memorable Quotes: “All to often, those stories of fighting back on the part of principled athletes who weren't happy with the way the Olympics were being organized, get shuffled under the historical rug….Athletes have been standing up to those in power...and standing up for their freedoms and their political beliefs.”   “Athletes have a tremendous amount of leverage if they act in unison, if they act in concert, and if they have a good plan going in.”   Guest Bio:  Jules Boykoff writes on a range of subjects, including political activism, the Olympic Games, and climate change. Boykoff holds a Ph.D. in political science from American University. He currently teaches political science at Pacific University in Oregon. He is the author of four books on the Olympics—NOlympians: Inside the Fight Against Capitalist Mega-Sports in Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Beyond (Fernwood, 2020), Power Games: A Political History of the Olympics (Verso, 2016), Activism and the Olympics: Dissent at the Games in Vancouver and London (Rutgers University Press, 2014), and Celebration Capitalism and the Olympic Games (Routledge, 2013).   Links to resources: Jules Boykoff  “A Bid for a Better Olympics” New York Times (13 August 2014) Join the movement for athlete driven change across the world of sport at globalathlete.org. 

The Olympics are no doubt an iconic sports staple and whether watching gymnasts tumble across an arena or skiers flying down the slopes, chances are you've watched—and probably cheered for—an Olympic event. Professor Jules Boykoff joins Noah Hoffman to break down the history of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and share the impact of some remarkable highs and lows of the modern Olympic games. In this episode, we talk about… Pierre Coubertin's vision and who he wanted to participate in the Olympics How athletes fit into the Olympic story throughout history Peter O'Connor's activism at the 1906 Olympics Alice Milliat's alternative Olympics for women The lasting influence of John Carlos, Tommie Smith and the Olympic Project for Human Rights in 1968 How the IOC leverages sanctions against athletes in present day IOC's governance structure and accountability 4 Trends of Olympic host cities: high spending, militarization, displacement and eviction, greenwashing How the United Nations addresses the democracy deficit of the IOC The state of exception the IOC thrives on vs. state of emergency in Japan for upcoming summer games Memorable Quotes: “All to often, those stories of fighting back on the part of principled athletes who weren't happy with the way the Olympics were being organized, get shuffled under the historical rug….Athletes have been standing up to those in power...and standing up for their freedoms and their political beliefs.” “Athletes have a tremendous amount of leverage if they act in unison, if they act in concert, and if they have a good plan going in.” Guest Bio: Jules Boykoff writes on a range of subjects, including political activism, the Olympic Games, and climate change. Boykoff holds a Ph.D. in political science from American University. He currently teaches political science at Pacific University in Oregon. He is the author of four books on the Olympics—NOlympians: Inside the Fight Against Capitalist Mega-Sports in Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Beyond (Fernwood, 2020), Power Games: A Political History of the Olympics (Verso, 2016), Activism and the Olympics: Dissent at the Games in Vancouver and London (Rutgers University Press, 2014), and Celebration Capitalism and the Olympic Games (Routledge, 2013). Links to resources: Jules Boykoff “A Bid for a Better Olympics” New York Times (13 August 2014) Join the movement for athlete driven change across the world of sport at globalathlete.org.

Every four years we tune in to the excitement, passion and drama of the Olympic Games. It's hard not to get wrapped up in all the the anticipation and celebration, for one of the most widely watched events in the world. Each successive Olympics seem to be a bigger spectacle than the last, with dramatic and expensive changes to the city itself. What are some of the ways the Olympics transform the physical structure and form of the host city, and who pays for the hefty price tag? Jules Boykoff is a former professional soccer player, and represented the men's US Olympic soccer team in international play. Jules has extensively researched the politics and activism in the Olympic Games, including the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver Canada, the 2012 Summer Games in London, the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi Russia, and the upcoming Summer Games in Rio De Janeiro Brazil. His writings on the Olympics include Activism and the Olympics: Dissent at the Games in Vancouver, Celebration Capitalism and the Olympic Games, and the recently published Power Games: A Political History of the Olympics. Photo credit: Luke & Jules

Jules Boykoff discusses the Olympics Games -- prominent urban mega-event spectacles -- as a form of 'celebration capitalism' (the complement to Naomi Klein's 'disaster capitalism'). He talks about celebration capitalism and political dissent in the context of the Vancouver, London, and Sochi Olympic Games.Jules Boykoff is author of Celebration Capitalism and the Olympic Games (2013). He is associate professor of politics and government at Pacific University in Oregon.

With the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia just winding down, we sit down with Jules Boykoff – author of Celebration Capitalism and the Olympic Games and Activism and the Olympics – to talk about what’s inspiring and what’s sickening about the Olympics. Chris and Jules discuss the gargantuan (and publicly-funded) cost of the games, the ubiquitous corporate sponsorship of athletes, the politics of Olympic boycotts for both athletes and spectators, and ideas for reclaiming the Olympics from corporate profiteers. Also: Chris and Derek recap the Maple Leafs “Forces Appreciation Night” parody website; reflect on Joshua Oppenheimer’s insane documentary The Act of Killing (brief re-enactment included), and note the recent resurfacing of two of the left’s most controversial activist scholars (excluding your charming hosts of course).Episode LinksToronto Maple Leafs parodyTwo Canadians Made A Fake Toronto Maple Leafs Website To Criticize The Afghan WarJules BoykoffCelebration Capitalism and the Olympic GamesActivism and the Olympics:Dissent at the Games in Vancouver and LondonPapa Palermo Pizza ad featuring Jules BoykoffThe Act of KillingDirector calls for US to acknowledge its role in 1965 killingsElectronic Intifada on Scarlett JohannsonAn Alienated Finkelstein Discusses His Writing, Being Unemployable, And Noam ChomskyIn Search of Ward ChurchillEpisode MusicGreg MacPherson – 1995

The 22nd Winter Olympics are underway. It’s safe to say that the lead-up has not gone smoothly. Of course, there have been the obligatory cost overruns, crony contracts, displacement of locals, and environmental despoliation–all the problems we’ve seen with past Olympics. But this year’s games have come with new wrinkles.... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 22nd Winter Olympics are underway. It’s safe to say that the lead-up has not gone smoothly. Of course, there have been the obligatory cost overruns, crony contracts, displacement of locals, and environmental despoliation–all the problems we’ve seen with past Olympics. But this year’s games have come with new wrinkles. It’s possible, though, that the various ills plaguing the Sochi games, from security concerns to shambolic accommodations, might stir deeper changes in the Olympic movement. For all the spectacle, for all the competitive drama and remarkable performances, more and more people are questioning whether the Olympics are worth the expense and trouble that they bring. A series of reports this week on National Public Radio cast light on the financial losses and expensive white elephants saddling cities that have hosted recent games. Meanwhile, a writer for an Australian sports site declared flatly: “It is time to get rid of this anachronistic political farce.” Political scientist Jules Boykoff isn’t ready to go that far. As he explains at the start of our interview, he’s a fan who looks forward to this year’s winter games. But in his book Celebration Capitalism and the Olympic Games (Routledge, 2013), Jules offers a sharp critique of the way the Olympics are funded, organized, and run. Based on work in London two years ago and research into other recent games, Jules shows that the Olympics turn massive public funding into private profits, while an ideological para-state, the IOC, subverts local authorities and citizens’ rights. In the weeks ahead, fans will enjoy their quadrennial dose of ski-jumping, giant slalom, and (my favorite!) curling. And this year, we’ll get plenty of laughs from tweeted photos of absurd plumbing arrangements and babushkas painting the grass green. But Jules Boykoff reminds us that the Olympics have deep problems that need to be addressed in order for the games to go on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 22nd Winter Olympics are underway. It’s safe to say that the lead-up has not gone smoothly. Of course, there have been the obligatory cost overruns, crony contracts, displacement of locals, and environmental despoliation–all the problems we’ve seen with past Olympics. But this year’s games have come with new wrinkles. It’s possible, though, that the various ills plaguing the Sochi games, from security concerns to shambolic accommodations, might stir deeper changes in the Olympic movement. For all the spectacle, for all the competitive drama and remarkable performances, more and more people are questioning whether the Olympics are worth the expense and trouble that they bring. A series of reports this week on National Public Radio cast light on the financial losses and expensive white elephants saddling cities that have hosted recent games. Meanwhile, a writer for an Australian sports site declared flatly: “It is time to get rid of this anachronistic political farce.” Political scientist Jules Boykoff isn’t ready to go that far. As he explains at the start of our interview, he’s a fan who looks forward to this year’s winter games. But in his book Celebration Capitalism and the Olympic Games (Routledge, 2013), Jules offers a sharp critique of the way the Olympics are funded, organized, and run. Based on work in London two years ago and research into other recent games, Jules shows that the Olympics turn massive public funding into private profits, while an ideological para-state, the IOC, subverts local authorities and citizens’ rights. In the weeks ahead, fans will enjoy their quadrennial dose of ski-jumping, giant slalom, and (my favorite!) curling. And this year, we’ll get plenty of laughs from tweeted photos of absurd plumbing arrangements and babushkas painting the grass green. But Jules Boykoff reminds us that the Olympics have deep problems that need to be addressed in order for the games to go on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices