Introduction to the special issue: Images of the Olympic Games

The Olympic Games are an exceptional global event; held every 4 years and receive exponential media coverage. The two weeks of competition are unforgettable, generating countless images of sporting achievements, host cities and sporting events. They create stories –some marvellous, others dramatic– around the athletes, but also events within the event. They create images and construct representations. The Olympic institution and the various stakeholders (sports organisations, sponsors, broadcasters, host territories, etc.) commit themselves to take over the production process of these representations and control them in order to ensure that their strategies/policies are implemented. Image is primarily controlled by the International Olympic Committee. The international sports institution exists through its image; it must control and sustain it (Giesen Hahm, Taci Kramavera & Grix 2023). Minorities who make demands, whether peacefully or violently, also disrupt the Games to take advantage of the spotlight they represent. But national identity remains at the heart of the Games, as flags are raised, and anthems sung at the end of each event. These symbols are in many ways an extension of an international competition between countries defending their athletic performance in a globalised society. In this respect, the medals won by champions help to forge sporting identities and, by extension, national identities. Through the various articles in this issue, we intend to contribute to this vast and complex theme. We do not claim to exhaust the subject, but rather to shed light on some of its aspects. Through their diversity, the authors offer complementary perspectives on various Olympics, sports, and countries.