2024 is an Olympic Games year. Held every four years (with the exception of during the World Wars and Covid-19 restrictions), the modern Olympics is the largest international sporting event in the world. However, historically it has not always been just the sports that are played and the athletes’ performances that make an impact. The modern Olympics have been the focus for international politics, tensions, prejudice, acts of resistance and acts of violence.

To mark the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, being held in Paris we brought together five academics to give five talks on a social, cultural or political aspect of the Games. All the talks are available to listen to as recordings and to support the series we have developed some resources to develop your understanding of the Games even further. These resources are attached below.