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Forget the medals, the real game of the Olympics is soft power — and the opening ceremony is key

  • Written by Caitlin Vincent, Lecturer in Creative Industries, The University of Melbourne
Forget the medals, the real game of the Olympics is soft power — and the opening ceremony is keyKyodo via AP Images

The Olympic Games are often hailed as a neutral celebration of athletic achievement. “The Olympic Games are not about politics,” wrote the International Olympic Committee president, Thomas Bach, in the Guardian last year.

In reality, the games have long been a platform for soft power: the use of culture and values to...

Read more: Forget the medals, the real game of the Olympics is soft power — and the opening ceremony is key

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