How are global sporting events used politically, and what is the impact of globalisation and hosting?
Global sport, politics and international events: the Olympic Games and major events as political and commercial spectacles, the political use of sport, globalisation and player migration, and the impact of hosting on a nation.
A focused answer to Eduqas A-Level PE on global sport and politics: the Olympic Games and major events as political and commercial spectacles, the political use of sport (propaganda, boycotts, protest), globalisation and player migration, and the economic, social and environmental impacts of hosting.
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What this dot point is asking
Eduqas wants you to explain how the Olympics and major events are political and commercial spectacles, the political use of sport, globalisation and player migration, and the impact of hosting on a nation.
Major events as political and commercial spectacles
The political use of sport
Globalisation and player migration
The impact of hosting
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC Eduqas exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
Eduqas 20184 marksExplain two ways in which the Olympic Games have been used as a political tool, giving an example of each.Show worked answer →
A Component 1 politics question. Two marks for each way with an example.
One political use is propaganda: a host nation or regime uses the Games to project an image of national strength, success or ideology to the world (for example the 1936 Berlin Olympics were used by the Nazi regime to promote its ideology, and host nations commonly use the Games to showcase their economic and organisational power). A second use is the boycott or protest: nations withdraw from or use the Games to make a political statement (for example the United States led a boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics, and the Soviet bloc boycotted the 1984 Los Angeles Games in response; athletes have also used the podium to protest). So sport, because of its global audience, becomes a stage for nations to project power and to make political statements through participation or withdrawal.
A common dropped mark is describing the political act without a clear example.
Eduqas 20216 marksDiscuss the impact of globalisation and hosting a major sporting event on a host nation.Show worked answer →
A Component 1 globalisation discussion. Markers reward globalisation effects, hosting impacts and a judgement.
Award marks for globalisation: the worldwide spread of sport through global media, sponsorship and travel has created global leagues and competitions, the migration of players and coaches between countries (raising standards but draining talent from some nations and weakening local identity), and a global audience and market for sport. On hosting: positive impacts include economic benefits (tourism, investment, jobs, infrastructure such as transport and stadiums), a raised international profile and prestige, a feel-good factor and a possible legacy of increased participation and regenerated areas. Negative impacts include the enormous cost (often over budget), the risk of debt and underused white-elephant venues afterwards, displacement of residents, environmental damage, and a legacy that often fails to deliver the promised participation rise. A discussion weighs these: hosting can boost the economy, profile and infrastructure of a nation, and globalisation raises standards and reach, but the costs and risks of hosting are high and the legacy is uncertain, so the benefits depend on careful planning and are not guaranteed.
A top answer covers globalisation (migration, global market) and the costs and benefits of hosting, reaching a reasoned conclusion on legacy.
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Sources & how we know this
- Eduqas A Level Physical Education Specification — Eduqas (2016)