A Game for the Global North: The 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang and South Korean Cultural Politics

Does Ski Tourism Improve the Regional Economy? The Case Study of Chongli, China

“…As Lee (2016) points out, the Winter Olympics represents a unique cultural and economic level of the participants. The Chinese government intends to shape its international image by hosting the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics (Hu, 2020).…”

The diplomatic roles of Korean state-run sport for development programs

“…The mentality of winning at all costs has been a key factor that transformed Korea into a sport powerhouse (Park et al, 2012). This outcome-oriented approach results from the government's efforts to promote Korea's international reputation (Lee, 2016). Within this perspective, the harsh training and any possible physical punishment that the KOICA swim coach had endured might be considered justified: after all, it had shaped her into a coach able to lead the Cambodian national team to their first medal at the Asian Games and to qualify for the Olympics for the first time (KOICA, 2005).…”

“…Sport diplomacy has been employed distinctively in Korea, where it was effectively integrated into the government's political aspirations and formed a foundation for inter-Korean relations in the broader context of the Cold War. Korea has utilized sport as a diplomatic tool to propagate South Korea's ideological superiority over North Korea (Merkel, 2008), shape international perceptions of Korea's rebirth (Black and Peacock, 2011) and justify the legitimacy of its various military regimes to the international community (Lee, 2016). It has indeed focused on sport's potential in international relations as a cultural resource to attract and persuade, that is to exercise "soft" power (Black, 2008).…”

Spatial Patterns of China’s Ski Resorts and Their Influencing Factors: A Geographical Detector Study

“…The cultural component of sports mega-events has received increasing attention because it has become increasingly important, both in terms of artistic activities and in terms of identity and way of life [24]. The Winter Olympics is arguably a game for the comparatively wealthy Global North; therefore, hosting this winter sports mega-event in less developed countries not only serves to boost its status as a global economic and cultural powerhouse [25], but also plays a vital role in fostering a ski culture and converting this activity into a lifestyle [26].…”