Department of Education, Unit Catalogue 2011/12 |
|
 Credits:
| 6 |
| Level:
| Honours (FHEQ level 6) |
| Period: |
Semester 1 |
| Assessment:
| CW 100% |
| Supplementary Assessment: | Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Requisites:
| |
| Description:
| Aims: The aim of this unit is to examine the contemporary sporting and cultural phenomenon of the Olympic Games. It explores the Games from a number of different social science perspectives and takes a multi-disciplinary, thematic approach to understanding the key issues. The main focus is on analysing the cultural, sporting, political, and, economic significance of the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. Learning Outcomes: In the completion of the unit, students will be able to: 1. Describe the process and identify the key issues involved in bidding for, planning and staging the Games. 2. Evaluate the economic, environmental and social impact of previous Games and identify lessons for the future 3. Analyse the significance of the Olympic Games using a range of social science disciplines 4. Critically engage with the economic, political, sporting and cultural significance of the Olympic Games 5. Understand the planning and management issues inherent in staging the Games 6. Critically explore the utility of the Olympic Games in contributing to the achievement of national and regional economic and social objectives 7. Engage with issues of governance, sustainability, social equity and ethics in the context of the Olympic Games. Skills: * Analysis of research and reflection (F/A) * Independent work (F) * Qualitative research skills * Written communication (A) * Integrated, cross-disciplinary, intercultural understanding of sport and politics (F/A). Content: Students will study: * History and philosophy of the Olympic Games and the 'Olympic Movement' * The bidding, planning, staging and evaluation phases * Role of the IOC, NOCs, ISFs, national, regional and local government and other stakeholders * The 'Five Ring Circus' - politics, power, nationalism and international relations * The Cultural Olympiad and the cultural economy of the Olympic Games: race, gender, (dis)abilities, and, Olympic sexualities * The Olympics and national and local policy objectives - sport, tourism culture, economic development and urban regeneration * The economics of the Games - costs and benefits, winners and losers * The media, marketing and sponsorship and the commercialisation of the Games * Planning and staging the Games - institutional mechanisms, procedures, finance, planning, HR, and legal issues, risk assessment, logistics and project management * Ethics, social equity, sustainability and governance * Measuring the impact of the Games * The Olympic legacy. |
| Programme availability: |
ED30431 is Compulsory on the following programmes:Department of Education
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