Jules Boykoff publishes What Are The Olympics For? ahead of Paris Games

American academic, author, and former professional soccer player, Jules Boykoff, has just launched What Are The Olympics For? – a critical analysis of the Olympics Games that hits the streets ahead of Paris 2024- which will see the Games' largest-ever opening ceremony and 32 different sports represented. The book is published by Bristol University Press.

The pre-eminent Olympics expert, Boykoff has already written five books on what is regarded as the world's biggest sporting event. However, his latest work focuses on what goes on behind the scenes, with athletes increasingly voicing concerns over physical, mental, and sexual abuse, and collective grievances around equity and human rights.

What Are The Olympics For? is the latest tome in the publisher’s ‘What Is It For?’ Series, edited by George Miller.

The series aims to offer fresh thinking on current debates – thinking that “gets beyond the over-heated polemics and easy polarisations.” Other issues set to be covered in the series include free speech and religion. Titles so far include What are Animal Rights For?, What Is War For?, What Are Prisons For? and What Is Philanthropy For?

"The status quo is broken," the editor says by way of explaining the genesis of the series. "Humanity today faces multiple interconnected challenges, some of which could prove existential. If we believe the world could be different, if we want it to be better, examining the purpose of what we do – and what is done in our name – is more pressing than ever."

In that questioning spirit, Boykoff's book also examines the issues which take shape outside the stadia. Problems covered include the democratic deficit; corruption surrounding the awarding of the Games; the displacement of people and gentrification of neighbourhoods to make way for Olympic venues; and the environmental damage that Olympic construction inflicts and then tries to greenwash away. And that's just for starters!

In what is a fascinating read, the author makes a compelling case that radical steps are required if the Games are to be fixed – and that only then will they be truly "athletes first."

This year's opening ceremony will see a large cross-section of the 10,500 competing athletes cross through the centre of Paris in a 3.5-mile boat parade along the Seine, culminating in front of the Trocadéro, on the opposite side of the Seine from the Eiffel Tower.

Snoop Dogg will be be among the torchbearers carrying the Olympic flame in the final stretch before the opening ceremony of the Paris Games on Friday.

The original plan was to give free tickets to 600,000 members of the public, but there will now be 300,000 invited guests.

Ireland will be sending its largest-ever – and most promising – team to date, with 133 athletes competing across the different sports and disciplines.

Among them are potential podium-toppers, including 400m runners and relay racers Sharlene Mawdsley and Rhasidat Adeleke, Male World Champion Swimmer Daniel Wiffen and previous Gold Medalist, boxer Kellie Harrington.

Boykoff, who is currently in Paris ahead of the Games, has also criticised the Olympics for their decision to allow Israeli Athletes compete, in spite of the ongoing atrocities in Gaza.

Sharing a post on X, the author and academic said that the Committee's insistence on being "politically neutral" was "siding with the aggressor, in this case, Israel."

The International Olympic Committee's insistence on being "politically neutral," ignores the fact that choosing “neutrality" often means implicitly siding with the aggressor, in this case, Israel. Wrote this for @anadoluagency @anadoluajansi #Paris2024 https://t.co/tEjaOaqWcW

— Jules Boykoff (@JulesBoykoff) July 19, 2024

The Games are due to kick off on Friday July 26 and will host 329 medal events until August 11.

• What Are The Olympics For? by Jules Boykoff is published by Bristol University Press – and is out now.