This edited collection contains six refreshing critical assessments of the leisure-sport relationship from societies that have staged the Olympic and Paralympic Games and contains valuable information for those who live in societies that aspire to host the Games. The collection begins and ends with discussions of the Olympic Games as a platform for protest. The first and last chapters consider the changing political relationships from 1968 in Mexico City, when one of the most politically-charged gestures ever made by athletes took place, and the campaigns surrounding the ethical responsibilities of those hosting the Olympics in London in 2012. Other chapters consider the sociocultural legacy of the Seoul Olympics, assess the likely regeneration legacies of the London 2012 Games, examine the relationship between hosting societies and indigenous cultures and analyse the effectiveness and appeal of Olympic mascots.

This collection provides not just insight into the past and present effects of the Olympic and Paralympic Games but also offers readers the opportunity to reflect upon and consider the impact of these sports mega-events on their everyday lives.

This book was published as a special issue of Leisure Studies.