How much of politics is involved in the Olympics?

As the delayed Tokyo Olympics come to an end this Sunday, some will be celebrating the Olympic medals won while others will be looking at where they can improve in three years’ time in Paris.

The Olympics have always been a chance for nations to showcase themselves on the grandest of stages.

Historically, the prestige of the podium has been an opportunity for governments to promote a kind of “soft power” of culture and influence, rather than the hard power of wealth and military might.

But have some countries now crossed that line?

And do the Games still have the same impact for the medal-winning nations and the hosts?

Presenter: Hazem Sika

Guests:

Richard Baka – Adjunct fellow, Olympic scholar and co-director of Victoria University’s Olympic Research Network.

Barbara Holthus – Deputy director of German Institute for Japanese studies and editor of, Japan through the lens of the Tokyo Olympics

Ross Griffin – Middle East editor of International Journal of the History of Sports.