Handbook of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games by Girginov, Vassil;

Short description:

The Handbook of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is an officially-licensed account of the world’s greatest sporting and cultural event. It tells the complete story of the 2012 Games from inception, through the successful bidding process and the planning and preparation phase, to delivery, the post-Games period and legacy. Written by a world-class team of international sport scholars, researchers and writers, the book offers comprehensive analysis of the full social, cultural, political, historical, economic and sporting context of the Games. From the political, commercial and structural complexities of organising an event on such a scale, to the sporting action that holds the attention of the world, this book illuminates every aspect of the 2012 Games, helping us to better understand the vital role that sport and culture play in contemporary global society.

The book is divided into two volumes. Volume One: Making the Games, examines the build-up to London 2012, covering key topics such as:

• the bidding process








• planning and decision making








• financing the Games








• developing the infrastructure








• engaging national and international governing bodies of sport








• engaging the UK public








• engaging a global public








• developing a legacy programme








• the Cultural Olympiad.

Richly illustrated with the personal accounts of key stakeholders, from sports administrators and politicians to athletes and spectators, and including essential data and evocative visual material, this book is essential reading for anybody with a personal or professional interest in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, global culture or the development of sport.

Long description:

The Handbook of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is an authoritative and comprehensive account of the world’s greatest sporting and cultural event. It tells the complete story of the 2012 Games from inception, through the successful bidding process and the planning and preparation phase, to delivery, the post-Games period and legacy. Written by a world-class team of international Olympic scholars, the book offers analysis of the full social, cultural, political, historical, economic and sporting context of the Games. From the political, commercial and structural complexities of organising an event on such a scale, to the sporting action that holds the attention of the world, this book illuminates every aspect of the 2012 Games, helping us to better understand the vital role that sport and culture play in contemporary global society.

The book is divided into two volumes. Volume One: Making the Games, examines the build-up to London 2012, covering key topics such as:

• the bidding process








• planning and decision making








• financing the Games








• developing the infrastructure








• engaging national and international governing bodies of sport








• engaging the UK public








• engaging a global public








• developing a legacy programme








• the Cultural Olympiad.

Richly illustrated with the personal accounts of key stakeholders, from sports administrators and politicians to athletes and spectators, and including essential data and evocative visual material, this book is essential reading for anybody with a personal or professional interest in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, global culture or the development of sport.

Table of Contents:

Acknowledgements  1. Social, political, economic and operational context of the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games: An introduction  Part One: Bidding for the Games  2. From 1908 to 2012: Continuity and change in London Olympic narratives  3. Preparing and winning the London bid  Part Two: Delivering the Games  4. Materializing the vision of a 2012 London Olympic Games  5. From a Roman village to an Olympic site: transforming East London  6. The Olympic Laws and the contradictions of promoting and preserving the Olympic Ideal  7. London 2012 legacy strategy: Ambitions, promises and implementation plans  8. Securing the Games  9. Preparing TeamGB for London 2012  10. Governance of the Games  Part Three: Engaging the UK Public  11. Involving East London communities  12. Involving the Regions  13. Involving Schools  14. Involving the Further & Higher Education sector  15. The London 2012 Cultural Olympiad and Torch relay  16. Volunteering for the Games  Part Four: Engaging Sports  17. Olympic and Paralympic Governing Bodies of Sport and the Games  18. Other sport providers and the Games  Part Five: London 2012 and the World’s Participation  9. Preparing for London: National elite sport policies  20. London 2012 and the Global South  21. Beijing-London-Rio de Janeiro: a never ending global competition  Part Six: Conclusions  22. Making the London Olympic & Paralympic Games: the story so far