The authors Vyv Simson and Andrew Jennings begin their documentary with a background of the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992. Since The Lords of the Rings was published in ′92, the Barcelona Games are the most recent example of the glamorous and commercialized modern-day Olympics.
The authors give an impressive statistical background of the world′s biggest and most sumptuous sport spectacle, the Olympics. Next they introduce the powerful International Olympic Committee (IOC), referring to it as The Club. The most powerful members of The Club are; president Juan Antonio Samaranch, FIFA (Federation of International Football Associations) boss Joao Havelange, the president of the IAAF (International Amateur Athletics Federation) Primo Nebiolo, ANOC′s (Association of National Olympic Committees) president Mario Vazquez Rana, the World Teakwondo Federation′s president Dr. Un Yong Kim, along with Dick Pound and Robert H. Helmick.
The next topic dealt with, is the rising value of the Olympics "as a global brand"(11) combined with the increasing amounts of money collected through the sponsorships of multinational corporations and official suppliers to the Olympic Games in Barcelona.
In the second part of this chapter the authors use the annual meeting of the IOC, which was held in Birmingham in 1991, as an example for the "constant and glittering round of first- class travel, five-star hotels, champagne receptions, extravagant banquets, mountains of gifts and lavish entertainment"(12) guaranteed for the Olympic family′s gatherings. Officially the annual IOC meeting (behind closed doors) is supposed to "debate and vote on the policies to be carried out in the name of the Olympics"(18). Jennings and Simson conclude that the IOC members′ lives are "a constant round of meetings, trades and deals in the now lucrative, powerful and high profile world of international sports"(20).
[...]
Table of Contents
I. Chapter summaries
Chapter 1: Welcome to Barcelona
Chapter 2: Horst' s System
Chapter 3: Dassler Takes Coke
Chapter 4: From Montreal to Monaco
Chapter 5: With Arm Raised I Salute You
Chapter 6: The Clever Chameleon
Chapter 7: The Jewel in the Crown
Chapter 8: ISL Rules the World
Chapter 9: Flotsam and Jetsam
Chapter 10: Olympia's Black Gold
Chapter 11: The Bumps on the Logs
Chapter 12: Twenty Million Dollars
Chapter 13: The Cheats
Chapter 14: Scandal
Chapter 15: Before Your Very Eyes
Chapter 16: A Lawyer From Des Moines
Chapter 17: Alarm Bells
Chapter 18: The Benevolent Dictator
Chapter 19: The Shoe Size of the Second Daughter
Chapter 20: Destroy the Olympics
II. Conflict Theory
III. Reaction to the Content
IV. Topics and Different Approaches
Objectives and Core Themes
This book review analyzes the documentary "The Lords of the Rings" by Vyv Simson and Andrew Jennings, aiming to expose the widespread corruption, commercial exploitation, and political manipulation underlying the modern Olympic movement. The primary research question addresses how influential officials abuse their power to secure wealth and prestige at the expense of the original Olympic ideals.
- The systemic creation of a "business-orientated" world of international sports by Horst Dassler and his successors.
- The political transformation and questionable reign of figures like Juan Antonio Samaranch and Primo Nebiolo.
- The institutionalized culture of doping and the complicity of federations in covering up abuses.
- The exploitation of bidding processes and corporate sponsorships to prioritize profit over athletic integrity.
Excerpt from the Book
Chapter 1: Welcome to Barcelona:
The authors Vyv Simson and Andrew Jennings begin their documentary with a background of the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992. Since The Lords of the Rings was published in '92, the Barcelona Games are the most recent example of the glamorous and commercialized modern-day Olympics.
The authors give an impressive statistical background of the world's biggest and most sumptuous sport spectacle, the Olympics. Next they introduce the powerful International Olympic Committee (IOC), referring to it as The Club. The most powerful members of The Club are; president Juan Antonio Samaranch, FIFA (Federation of International Football Associations) boss Joao Havelange, the president of the IAAF (International Amateur Athletics Federation) Primo Nebiolo, ANOC's (Association of National Olympic Committees) president Mario Vazquez Rana, the World Teakwondo Federation's president Dr. Un Yong Kim, along with Dick Pound and Robert H. Helmick.
The next topic dealt with, is the rising value of the Olympics "as a global brand"(11) combined with the increasing amounts of money collected through the sponsorships of multinational corporations and official suppliers to the Olympic Games in Barcelona.
Summary of Chapters
Chapter 1: Welcome to Barcelona: This chapter introduces the modern, commercialized state of the Olympic Games and the influential power structure known as The Club.
Chapter 2: Horst' s System: This section details how Horst Dassler utilized Adidas to manipulate and control international sports federations and the IOC.
Chapter 3: Dassler Takes Coke: The authors reveal how Dassler orchestrated a sponsorship deal between Coca-Cola and FIFA to serve his own strategic and financial interests.
Chapter 4: From Montreal to Monaco: This part examines the expansion of Dassler’s influence through the creation of GAISF and the establishment of operations in Monaco.
Chapter 5: With Arm Raised I Salute You: This chapter covers the transition of Juan Antonio Samaranch from a fascist political career in Spain to international sports leadership.
Chapter 6: The Clever Chameleon: The chapter focuses on Samaranch’s "reinvention" and his rise to the presidency of the IOC through strategic alliances.
Chapter 7: The Jewel in the Crown: This section details the path of Dr. Primo Nebiolo to the presidency of the IAAF and his consolidation of power in athletics.
Chapter 8: ISL Rules the World: The chapter explains how ISL Marketing established a monopoly over sports marketing contracts following the split between Dassler and Nally.
Chapter 9: Flotsam and Jetsam: This chapter criticizes the recruitment of former East Bloc political figures into the IOC by Samaranch.
Chapter 10: Olympia's Black Gold: The section discusses the influence of Sheik Fahd Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and the exclusionary politics within Asian sports organizations.
Chapter 11: The Bumps on the Logs: This chapter covers Dr. Un Yong Kim's leadership of South Korean sports and the corruption surrounding the Seoul Olympic Games.
Chapter 12: Twenty Million Dollars: The authors describe Nebiolo's bluff during negotiations and the creation of his secretive International Athletics Foundation.
Chapter 13: The Cheats: This chapter details the organized cheating involving Italian athletics during the World Championships in Rome.
Chapter 14: Scandal: The section reflects on the aftermath of the Evangelisti long jump controversy and Nebiolo’s efforts to suppress the truth.
Chapter 15: Before Your Very Eyes: This chapter explores the systemic acceptance and cover-up of doping practices by major sports federations.
Chapter 16: A Lawyer From Des Moines: This section chronicles the ascent of Robert H. Helmick within the USOC and the IOC.
Chapter 17: Alarm Bells: The authors highlight the corrupt management and financial mismanagement that defined Helmick's tenure.
Chapter 18: The Benevolent Dictator: This chapter criticizes the concentration of authority in the IOC and the role of Mario Vazquez Rana.
Chapter 19: The Shoe Size of the Second Daughter: The section describes the lavish and wasteful bidding procedures for hosting Olympic Games.
Chapter 20: Destroy the Olympics: The concluding chapter summarizes the transformation of the Olympic Games into a professionalized show-business spectacle.
Keywords
Olympic Games, IOC, Corruption, Doping, Commercialization, Horst Dassler, Juan Antonio Samaranch, Primo Nebiolo, Sponsorship, Sports Politics, The Club, Conflict Theory, ISL Marketing, Athletics, Integrity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this book?
The book serves as a documentary investigation into the systemic corruption, political manipulation, and commercialization that have shaped the modern Olympic movement.
What are the central thematic fields explored?
The central themes include the abuse of power by sports officials, the influence of multinational corporations, institutionalized doping, and the lack of transparency in Olympic governance.
What is the primary objective of the work?
The primary goal is to expose the "hidden world" of sports leadership and demand accountability and reform within the international sports community.
Which scientific method is utilized?
The authors apply Conflict Theory, analyzing the relationship between the powerful "haves" (officials) and the exploited "have-nots" (athletes and spectators) within the Olympic structure.
What does the main body of the book cover?
The chapters systematically detail the histories of influential leaders like Samaranch, Nebiolo, and Dassler, documenting specific scandals and the evolution of the business side of the Olympics.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include Olympic corruption, sports marketing, institutional power, doping, and commercial exploitation.
How does the book analyze the influence of Horst Dassler?
The authors portray Dassler as the architect of a system that leveraged sponsorships and political favors to gain control over major federations and the IOC.
What specific conclusion do the authors draw regarding the future of the Olympics?
The authors conclude that genuine reform is unlikely to come from within; instead, it must be forced by public pressure and critical media scrutiny.
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- Lars Allenstein (Autor:in), 1999, Book report: Vyv Simson, Andrew Jennings - The Lords of the Rings, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/5746
