Olympics

Letters

Letters—Olympics 2012 won London a gentrification gold medal

Criminal legacy of London Olympics 2012
25 July 2022
Athletes compete in the 1980 Moscow Marathon. (Pic: Bundesarchiv)
Comment

What’s behind calls for an Olympic boycott?

The US is leading a boycott of China’s Winter Olympics.
15 December 2021
International round-up: Demonstrations demand Bolsonaro out in Brazil
International

International round-up: Demonstrations demand Bolsonaro out in Brazil

Angry protests have continued in Brazil as far right president Jair Bolsonaro’s popularity plummets.
27 July 2021
Socialist Review Archive

Since when is sex testing fair?

Among all the coverage of this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio, perhaps the biggest media furore was around the athlete Caster Semenya. Caster Semenya is a South African runner who won the women’s 800 metres. The mainstream media is divided. Many reports have speculated on whether she is “really a woman” or questioned whether it...
06 September 2016
Socialist Review Archive

Sport for all isn’t part of the Olympic dream

The Olympics saw some fantastic sport. The performances of Usain Bolt, Mo Farah and Almaz Ayana on the track were awe inspiring. Katie Ledecky and Michael Phelps in the pool were completely dominant. In the velodrome Laura Trott was untouchable (again), while Nicola Adams boxed with grace and power. But the Olympics are so full...
06 September 2016
Anger at lack of change sets back ANC in South African elections
International

Anger at lack of change sets back ANC in South African elections

Also: Olympic protest in Rio, hunger strike in Israeli jails and BDS clampdown
09 August 2016
As the Rio Olympics loom - the brutal reality of Brazil's eviction games
Features

As the Rio Olympics loom – the brutal reality of Brazil’s eviction games

A city planned for the rich and ‘slavery’ for workers while the poor are cleansed for being in the way. Andy Brown and Simon Shaw expose the Rio Olympic Games
02 August 2016
Socialist Review Archive

On hypocrisy, racism and corporate greed

In the wake of his death in June, there was seemingly universal acclaim of the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali. It was not simply sportswriters and fans but also politicians who rushed to pay tribute. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was quick off the mark declaring that Ali was a “truly great champion and a wonderful...
28 June 2016
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Reviews & Culture

Queen Elizabeth Park

Now open
02 May 2014
LGBT activists in Russia vow to defy Putin’s homophobic lies and laws
International

LGBT activists in Russia vow to defy Putin’s homophobic lies and laws

The Russian government has provoked and legitimised a wave of homophobia in the run-up to the Winter Olympics.
04 February 2014
An olympic struggle between oligarchs of West and East
Alex Callinicos

An olympic struggle between oligarchs of West and East

The Winter Olympics in Sochi start this week amid a welter of controversies. Radical lawyer Bill Bowring summed them up—corruption and cronyism surrounding the construction of Olympic facilities, the war between Moscow and Central Asian jihadis, Russia’s anti-LGBT law, and so on.
04 February 2014
Olympic construction workers beaten in Russia
International

Olympic construction workers beaten in Russia

The people who worked to prepare for the Winter Olympics in Sochi were subjected to beatings, intimidation and little pay.
04 February 2014
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Socialist Review Archive

Which Paralympian legacy?

The Paralympics were, it is universally agreed, the most successful yet. All the venues sold out, and Channel 4's coverage reached just shy of 40 million people.
01 October 2012
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Socialist Review Archive

Rehabilitating the military

In 2007 General Richard Dannatt, head of the UK armed forces, complained, "The British public do not support the troops enough." Within weeks a range of support the troops initiatives materialised including a new annual Armed Forces Day, homecoming parades, Help for Heroes, Tickets for Troops, concerts for heroes, on X Factor "song for heroes" (twice), and various military-inspired album releases.
01 October 2012
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Socialist Review Archive

The Olympics: a nation united?

Now that the hysteria has subsided, Brian Richardson asks whether the Olympics lived up to their promise
01 September 2012
Let's hit Cameron's crumbling coalition
News

Let’s hit Cameron’s crumbling coalition

After the Olympics athletes went for gold, David Cameron and Nick Clegg were hoping some of the shine would rub off on them.
14 August 2012
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Alex Callinicos

This coalition government is failing at both of its aims

David Cameron and Nick Clegg are kidding themselves if they think the undeniable success of the London Olympics will allow them to "relaunch" their coalition government.
14 August 2012
Tory promises on Olympic affordable housing crumble
The Troublemaker

Tory promises on Olympic affordable housing crumble

The Tories told us that the Olympics would create affordable homes for thousands of ordinary people in London. How’s that working out?
14 August 2012
No Olympic boost as the Games just add to economic misery
The Troublemaker

No Olympic boost as the Games just add to economic misery

The Olympics was going to be the event that saved Britain from the recession. Like the royal wedding and the jubilee before it, the hype was that it would provide huge economic growth.
07 August 2012
Isles of Wonder? This is a land of class conflict
What We Think

Isles of Wonder? This is a land of class conflict

Official events are so often simply a parade of nationalism and militarism that it came as a surprise to many when the Olympics opening ceremony did not just follow that pattern.
31 July 2012
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News

Progress, but fight over Home Office job cuts goes on

A planned strike by PCS union members on the eve of the Olympics was called off last week after management concessions.
31 July 2012
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News

Olympics round-up

Cleaners expose low pay London Underground cleaners in the RMT union struck as the Olympics opened to demand a living wage. They walked out for two days, starting on Friday of last week—the day of the Olympics opening ceremony.
31 July 2012
Corporate greed causes empty seats at the London Olympics
News

Corporate greed causes empty seats at the London Olympics

Rows upon rows of empty seats. That was the dominant image of the first few days of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
31 July 2012
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News

News round-up

Gove’s attack on teachers Tory education secretary Michael Gove snuck in a fresh attack on education as the Olympics began last week.
31 July 2012